President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and chairman of the 15th BRICS Bloc, while addressing the summit in Johannesburg, mentioned that the six countries were joining the BRICS effective January 1, 2024.
Among the countries that have joined are Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
”As the five BRICS countries, we have reached agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria, and procedures of the BRICS expansion process, which has been in discussion for quite some time,” Ramaphosa said.
He described BRICS as a heterogeneous group of states and an equal partnership of countries with opposing viewpoints but a common aim for a better world.
“We have reached an agreement on the first phase of this expansion, and further phases will be announced,” he stated.
President Xi Jinping of China said the six countries that have joined them have made history today.
“The expansion also marks a new beginning for BRICS cooperation; it would bring the BRICS cooperation mechanism and enhance the force for global peace and development,” he stated.
BRICS is a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.