Lavrov holds press conference during 17th annual BRICS summit

(MENAFN) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a press conference during the 17th annual BRICS summit, which began Sunday in Rio de Janeiro under Brazil’s rotating presidency. The summit centers on enhancing multilateral cooperation, global development, and governance.

During Monday’s session, Lavrov emphasized the need for a more balanced global economic system based on universality, transparency, and fairness. He argued that many existing international institutions have deteriorated into tools of neo-colonial domination and called for their complete reform.

Lavrov asserted that the emergence of a multipolar world is not a matter of preference but an unavoidable reality. He said this evolving order will replace the “outdated neo-liberal model” long dominated by Western powers and characterized by exploitative practices.

BRICS, initially founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China as a platform for trade and development, welcomed South Africa in 2010. The bloc has recently expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Indonesia, along with ten partner nations.

This year’s summit gathered approximately 4,000 participants from 37 countries, including high-ranking officials from member and partner states, as well as representatives of global institutions.

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