China for expansion of five-nation BRICS

New Delhi, May 20

The five-country BRICS could have more members if a suggestion made by China finds favours with the other four members — India, Russia, South Africa and Brazil. BRICS began life as a four-country club and expanded to its current form in 2010 with the induction of South Africa.

‘BRICS Plus’ meets

Nine developing nations — Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Thailand — attend ‘BRICS Plus’ meeting

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In what could be a prelude to an expansion, a separate session in a “BRICS Plus” format was held on Friday evening within the framework of the virtual BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting hosted by China. The countries represented at the meeting were Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Thailand.

The BRICS members have backed the broad Chinese suggestion for an expansion of the bloc, but an agreement on the names of the countries may be subject to protracted negotiations. A joint statement by the BRICS Foreign Ministers said they needed to clarify relevant guiding principles, standards and procedures before undertaking any expansion.

Earlier this year, Argentina President Alberto Fernández had said that Buenos Aires wanted to join the group and had named Indonesia as another likely candidate.