Iran (IMNA) – Pezeshkian left Tehran on Friday to attend the 18th BRICS summit, saying the bloc has the capacity to counter unilateralism and expand economic, trade, industrial and scientific cooperation among its members.
During his visit, the president will attend and address the main BRICS leaders’ meeting and the BRICS economic forum, as well as a closed session of BRICS leaders focusing on inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism. He will also meet with the prime minister of India, the prime minister of Malaysia, the president of South Africa and other leaders and officials attending the summit.
Before his departure, Pezeshkian described the summit as an important opportunity to expand cooperation among member states. He said BRICS currently has 21 members, including 11 full members and 10 new members known as “BRICS Plus.”
The BRICS members account for more than 45 percent of the world’s population and about 35 percent of the world’s territory, he said, adding that the bloc has significant capacities across various fields.
“The main goal of BRICS is to counter unilateralism, and efforts are focused on enabling countries to develop their economic and trade relations while preserving their independence,” Pezeshkian said. This year’s summit slogan is based on solidarity, sustainability, resistance and innovation.
On financial cooperation, Pezeshkian pointed to the establishment of the BRICS bank to facilitate joint investment and activities among member states and stressed the importance of reducing dependence on the dollar in economic exchanges.
“The effort is for countries to develop economically and regionally without dependence on the dollar, and to stand against unilateralism and the excessive demands of major powers,” he said.
Pezeshkian said the participation of China, Russia, Brazil, India and other regional countries in the summit provides significant opportunities for expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation and consultations.
He also highlighted Iran and India’s long-standing relations, shared cultural heritage and considerable potential for expanding cooperation in cultural, economic and social fields.
Asked about BRICS’s effectiveness in confronting unilateralism, Pezeshkian said the bloc was established for that purpose. He noted that the global economy is highly complex and that the dominance some powers have established over international relations in recent years requires new approaches.
“Innovation and developing cooperation among member states can help strengthen BRICS and reduce unilateralism in the international system,” he said.
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