Russia Holds BRICS Summit, President Putin: This Is The Association Of Countries That Cooperate Based On Joint Values

BRICS 2024 Summit. (Ramil Sitdikov/Photohost agency brics-russia2024.ru)

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin said BRICS is a state association that works together based on shared values, when Russia will host the organization's Summit in the next two days.

This year's BRICS 16th Summit will be held in Kazan on October 22-24. Apart from the Russians, Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, this summit will be the first for new members, Egypt, Ethiophia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

The BRICS group now covers 45 percent of the world's population and 35 percent of its economy, based on purchasing power parity, although China covers more than half of its economic power.

President Putin, who by the West is considered a war criminal, told reporters from BRICS countries, "BRICS is not putting itself in a position that is against anyone", and the shift in global growth drivers is just a fact.

"These are the associations of countries that work together based on shared values, vision of joint development, and most importantly, the principle of considering each other's interests," he said.

The BRICS summit comes as global financial heads gather in Washington, the United States amid war in the Middle East and Ukraine, China's sluggish economy and fears the US presidential election could spark a new trade battle.

President Putin, who ordered troops to Ukraine in 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine, was bombarded with questions by BRICS reporters about the prospect of a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Ahead of the BRICS summit, President Putin met with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for informal talks that lasted until midnight at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow.

He praised Sheikh Mohammed and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who would not attend the summit in Kazan, for their mediation efforts over Ukraine.

"I guarantee that we will continue to work in this direction," Sheikh Mohammed told President Putin.

"We are ready to make every effort to resolve the crisis and for the sake of peace, in the interests of both parties," he added.

It is planned that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the summit this time. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva canceled his trip following medical advice to temporarily avoid long-distance flights after suffering a head injury that caused minor brain hemorrhage.