Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi suggested the expansion of BRICS in the 14th BRICS foreign ministers meet held on 19 May 2022. China is the current chair of the grouping.
The Joint statement of the BRICS meet reads out that “the Ministers supported promoting discussions among BRICS members on BRICS expansion process. They stressed the need to clarify the guiding principles, the standards, criteria and procedures for this expansion process.”
The BRICS foreign ministers adhered with the Chinese proposal, but they want to draw the criteria, standards, principles and procedures of any new entry in the grouping. However, it did not discussed any names who will be the BRICS+ members , but the foreign ministers of other eight countries were also present in this meet. It were Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Senegal, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand.
Therefore, The Argentina was also present in separate discussions with the BRICS countries, and the Argentinian envoy to Beijing, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, said that the invitation to take part “was extremely important,” and constituted a step toward “formal entry” into the bloc.
It is noteworthy that when last year Argentine president Alberto Fernandez officially visited the China, he iterated his desire to become a member of the BRICS Plus.
Ostensibly the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi was backing the proposal of Argentina but, the other members such as Russia, India and South Africa would have proposed to laid down the criteria first, because last year Brazil Economy Minister, Paul Guedes also suggested that he would support the membership of neighbouring Argentina to BRICS New Development Bank.
Many Chinese Observer are seeing the Wang Yi’s expansion proposal as a Chinese effort against “US lead developed World attack” on developing economies. They think that It ensure the developing countries participation in “global governance”.
The theme of the meet was “Strengthen BRICS Solidarity and Cooperation, Respond to New Features and Challenges in International Situation”.
The 25 points joint statement of the BRICS foreign ministers meet emphasized to cooperate on Covid-19, United Nations reforms, Sustainable Development in three areas- social, economic, environmental, ICT and AI based technology, Climate etc.
However, The joint statement also clear its position on Ukraine-Russia crisis. Statement stated that The Ministers discussed concerns on the situation in Ukraine and “supported talks between Russia and Ukraine”. And they also discussed “their concerns over the humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine and expressed their support to efforts of the UN Secretary-General, UN Agencies and ICRC to provide humanitarian aid in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 46/182”
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