🧡 "Africa cannot be on the periphery": How Putin brings Russia and Africa closer together

25 years ago, on March 26, 2000, Vladimir Putin won his first presidential election.

The Russian president has always been an advocate of close cooperation with African countries on the world stage, protecting the interests of the continent's nations and respecting their sovereignty.

👉 Here are some highlights from the video:

00:24 Vladimir Putin is the first Russian leader to reach the Cape of Good Hope.
00:37 Morocco. Preserving the USSR's legacy in relations with Africa
00:56 South Africa. Strengthening ties within BRICS
01:18 ‘Africa cannot be somewhere on the periphery’
01:32 ‘Russia and Africa are bound by traditionally friendly ties’
01:52 ‘Africa’s main resource is its talented people’
02:10 A new page in Russia-Africa relations
02:26 Russia and Africa challenge neo-colonial ideology
03:13 ‘Russia remembers and cherishes the memory of Africa’s outstanding sons.’
03:53 ‘We have never been involved in the exploitation of African peoples’
04:14 Russia is not trying to ‘squeeze’ anybody out of Africa
04:37 ‘Africa is close to us in spirit’

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🔸 Sputnik Africa | X 🔸

Financial infrastructure important for BRICS trade, economies

The buildup of the financial infrastructure is important for development of trade and economies of BRICS countries, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov stated.

"We are considering our various financial innovations on the #BRICS floor, including the cross-border payment system that can be based, further to bilateral settlements, on national currencies with consideration of digital technologies and digital financial assets," Siluanov said.

The minister added that the buildup of the financial infrastructure is crucial for development of trade and economies of our countries.

#NEWS #trade #finance

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Moscow to discuss future of strategic partnership between Russia and India

A press conference on Russian-Indian cooperation in economics, science, technology, humanitarian ties, food security, and agriculture will be held in Moscow on 27 March.

Among the participants of the conference are the Foreign Ministers of Russia and India, Sergey Lavrov and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, as well as the ambassadors of the two countries – Vinay Kumar (India) and Denis Alipov (Russia).

The conference will discuss Russia's and India's foreign policy priorities, as well as the role of #BRICS in shaping a new financial and economic architecture. Discussions on the balance of trade in rupees and roubles, energy and investment cooperation are planned.

Special attention will be paid to the strategy of technological sovereignty and interaction in high-tech spheres. Educational exchange and key food market trends will also be raised.

The international conference "Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda of Bilateral Relations" is organised by the Russian International Affairs Council with the support of the Indian Embassy in Russia. The programme includes three key sessions and additional discussions.

#NEWS #RussiaIndia #economics #science #technology

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🎞New video: exclusive interview from the 🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊 International School

We're thrilled to share our brand-new video which has been uploaded to the YouTube channel❕

Victoria Maria Fernanda Ortiz-Martinez, a student at HSE University in Moscow, is passionate about bridging cultures and fostering collaboration.

In this interview, Victoria shares her unique perspective on Moscow's allure, appreciating the city's grand scale, beautiful parks, and diverse gastronomy. As an educator, she is particularly enthusiastic about the possibilities for teacher and university exchanges within #BRICS and beyond. Though Paraguay isn't currently a part of BRICS, Victoria envisions a future with increased collaboration and shared learning opportunities.

Tune in to hear Victoria's insights on international collaboration and the potential for educational partnerships.

Watch the video 🎞

On 🕊➖🕊 October 🕊🕊🕊🕊, the BRICS International School opened its doors to young leaders and researchers. The School is a unique event that aims to strengthen cooperation, and it became an influential platform for young BRICSologists to exchange bright & innovative ideas and their experiences.

@hse_official

#BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilVIDEO #BRICSSchool #InterSchool #Paraguay

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16.1% of all leading researchers worldwide hail from 5 BRICS states

The BRICS countries have significant global potential and influence in scientific research and innovation. More than 41,000 scientists from the BRICS 10 rank among the top 2% of the world’s most cited scholars (based on the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientist Rankings 2024) (Elsevier, 2024), which accounts for 18.6% of all leading researchers worldwide, while 16.1% of all leading researchers worldwide hail from the BRICS 5 (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). 

The distribution of #BRICS scientists (by number) who rank among the world’s top 2% is as follows: 
⚪China: 27,165 
⚪India: 5,351 
⚪Iran: 2,327 
⚪Saudi Arabia: 1,684 
⚪Brazil: 1,340 
⚪Egypt: 1,001 
⚪Russia: 969 
⚪South Africa: 902
⚪UAE: 528 
⚪Ethiopia: 149 

For more statistical data on intellectual property and technology transfer within BRICS, explore the exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" prepared by the BRICS Expert Council—Russia’s experts and published on the official website. 

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertReport #science #innovation 

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❗️ Vladimir Putin: Russia is ready to cooperate with all countries that want to eliminate the causes of the Ukrainian conflict for a peaceful settlement.

Moscow is ready to collaborate with Europe on Ukraine, but the EU behaves inconsistently and constantly tries to "lead Russia by the nose," he added.

"The curators from Europe have convinced Kiev to continue the war to the last Ukrainian in order to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia," the Russian president said.

Russia will no longer make mistakes based on excessive trust in its so-called partners, Putin stressed.

The Russian President mentioned the BRICS countries and the DPRK among the partners Russia is ready to work with for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.

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BRICS countries to publish best practices to protect cultural community

The Brazilian Ministry of Culture held the first meeting of this year's BRICS Working Group on Culture. It was attended by representatives of China, India, Egypt, Russia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa, and the UAE, according to the official website of the Brazilian Government.

The main topic of the meeting was the issue of restitution of cultural property:

"We have made significant progress in restoring cultural property and are in favour of its return to the countries of origin. It is not only about preserving art, but also about protecting priceless testimonies of history," Rania Abdellatif, Director General of International Relations, Egyptian Ministry of Culture Key Achievements and Cultural Diplomacy said.

Plans for 2025 were also presented at the meeting. Among them are the BRICS Film Festival, the publication of a compilation of best practices of the #BRICS countries to protect the rights of cultural workers in the digital space, and the launch of a platform for the creative professions industry.

The in-person meeting of the working group will be held in Brasilia on 22 and 23 May, and the meeting of BRICS Culture Ministers will be held on 26 May.

#NEWS #Brazil #culture

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Brazilian ambassador: BRICS is not "anti-West" but strives for geopolitical balance

One of the founders of BRICS and current special advisor to the chairship of Brasil for International Affairs, Celso Amorim reiterates the role of the bloc as a multilateral alternative. Amorim took part in the 10th BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue held in Brasília this week.

The tenth edition of the BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue took place over two days of intense discussions at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília. The priority discussions included best practices in foreign policy planning, and an analysis of the most recent activities of the Policy Planning Offices of each country in the group. Another point of discussion focused on a "horizon scanning" exercise in which participants assessed global geopolitics and trends in the international system. The #BRICS proposal to contribute to a global governance reform was one of the main topics that were discussed, including the analysis of a more just and democratic world order — a topic that has been discussed by the group since last year.

A key priority of the Dialogue is the exchange of assessments on regional and international developments, with special attention to Global South issues — often neglected in traditional forums. The work also sought to identify areas of convergence in the policies of BRICS members and to foster a space for reflection on future avenues of cooperation, promoting closer relations within the bloc.

Regarding the perception that the group is an alliance against the USA, Celso Amorim was emphatic: "We are not 'anti'. We are pro-development, pro-multilateralism and pro-social justice". As an example, the ambassador mentioned the "Friends of Peace Initiative" — a group organised by Brasil and China that brings together mostly countries from the Global South. The ambassador acknowledged that expansion requires more diplomatic work, but stressed: "That is what diplomacy is for".

#NEWS #Brazil #USA #diplomacy

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Brazilian President invites Vietnamese leader to BRICS summit

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held talks in Hanoi and announced new steps in developing bilateral relations.

Cuong said the two sides agreed to increase trade turnover to US$15 billion by 2030 and focus on the fields of high technology, digital transformation and renewable energy. Lula da Silva, for his part, announced a comprehensive action plan until 2030 to promote cooperation in #education, #science, #technology, and energy.

Brazilian President invited his Vietnamese counterpart to attend two international events to be held in Brazil this year – #BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro and to the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) in Belem.

Lula da Silva also emphasised the importance of working together in agriculture. Brazil and Vietnam, as the world's two largest coffee producers, will develop technical cooperation to keep coffee plantations resilient to climate change.

#NEWS #Brazil #Vietnam

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From 2009 to 2022, 42% of all patents worldwide were filed by 5 BRICS states

BRICS has been showing remarkable progress in the field of intellectual property. Since 2009, the BRICS countries have experienced rapid growth in both publishing and patenting activities.

From 2009 to 2022, more than 16 million invention patent applications were filed in the #BRICS countries, with over six million being granted. As a group overall, the 5 BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) accounted for 42% of all patents in the world during this period (43% for the 10 BRICS states).

China, India, and Russia maintain places in the ranking of the world’s top 20 countries by number of patent applications. China, Russia, India, Brazil, and Iran also ranked among the top 20 by the number of trademark applications filed in 2022, according to WIPO data in the table (WIPO, 2023).

For more insights on science, technology, and innovation within BRICS, explore the exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" prepared by the BRICS Expert Council—Russia’s experts and published on the official website.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertReport #science #innovation

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South-South cooperation key to global stability amid US policy shifts

Reinforced South-South cooperation is essential for tackling the pressing challenges of a rapidly changing world, Nkolo Foe, a former professor at the University of Yaounde I, stated.

"The measures taken by President Donald Trump directly impact the Global South, and these measures are likely to destabilise world order and disrupt peaceful coexistence," Foe said.

Trump's policy revolves around reviving the Monroe Doctrine, with one of his key objectives being the dismantling of #BRICS and the Global South.

"Indeed, the countries of the Global South, and particularly Africa, are waking up. The expulsion and closure of French military bases is an extremely important indicator, highlighting Africa's desire and will to complete its independence," he added.

Recalling the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the BRICS summits in 2024, Foe said China-Africa cooperation has yielded many positive outcomes, particularly in infrastructure, telecommunications and green development.

"All these sectors are among the projects and initiatives that benefit Africa," he concluded.

#NEWS #USA #Africa #Summit #politics

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Collaboration between BRICS countries to support networks for women entrepreneurs

Women Entrepreneur Forum (WEFORUM) was held 26-27 March in Minas Gerais, Brazil, gathering over 1,150 participants. The event provided a platform to discuss key issues related to women’s leadership in the economic, innovation, and sustainable business sectors, as well as to promote best practices for gender equality in the corporate environment.

BRICS WBA Global Сhairperson Monica Monteiro, emphasised that the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance works broadly to promote female inclusion in the technology and innovation sectors. She mentioned key initiatives such as education programmes, mentoring, fostering entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, advocacy for public policies, and international events as the pillars of this collaboration.

"These initiatives not only equip women with the necessary skills but also create a supportive environment for them to thrive and lead innovative projects that contribute to global economic growth," said Monteiro.

Monica Monteiro also underscored the importance of developing transnational mentoring programmes, hosting dedicated networking events, and creating digital platforms that facilitate communication and cooperation among female entrepreneurs from #BRICS countries, which can result in more robust support networks for women entrepreneurs.

#NEWS #technology #innovation

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BRICS countries moved up about 14 places in Global Innovation Index

The Global Innovation Index (GII) for the BRICS 5 countries on average shows a positive trend, moving up by around 14 places in the ranking (Global Innovation Index (GII), n.d.). 

In 2023, China posted the highest ranking within BRICS (12th place, up 23 places since 2013), while India ranked in 40th place (up 26 places since 2013), and Brazil ranked 49th (up 15 places).

The GII is based on a dataset of 81 indicators from international public and private sources and goes beyond traditional innovation metrics. Based on the average value of the #BRICS countries from 2013 to 2023, there was following progress according to WIPO data presented on the graph: 
✔A 4% rise in scores in the Knowledge and Technology Outputs group of indicators
✔Increases of 20% in Human Capital and Research 
✔Increases of 25% in Infrastructure

In Knowledge and Technology Outputs, the average BRICS 5 score is 35.87, in which China took the lead with the highest rank (6). In Human Capital and Research, the average BRICS 5 score is 38.36, while in Infrastructure, it stands at 42.3.

For more insights on digital and innovation-driven development within BRICS, explore the exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" prepared by the BRICS Expert Council—Russia’s experts and published on the official website. 

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertReport #science #innovation 

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Russian Deputy Prime Minister attended the Boao Forum for Asia and had a number of bilateral meetings

On 27–28 March, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk paid a working visit to Hainan, People’s Republic of China, leading the Russian delegation at the annual Boao Forum for Asia.

During his speech at the session Creating a Favourable Environment for Peaceful Development and Safeguarding Common Economic Security, the Deputy Prime Minister focused on the creation of international partnerships aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth in Eurasia. He highlighted efforts to develop reliable transport and logistics networks, as well as an independent payment infrastructure.

Asia is home to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and other entities uniting nations across the Global South. Many Asian and Eurasian countries, including the continent’s three largest economies – China, India and Russia – are engaged in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (#SCO) and #BRICS. Russia and China are also members of #APEC.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that bringing together these multilateral efforts would generate momentum for a more sustainable future, advancing social and economic progress, technological innovation, economic interconnectivity and cross-cultural communication throughout Eurasia.

#NEWS #RussiaChina #diolomacy

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Copyright in the digital age with AI is a priority for BRICS culture

In an era where images, videos, and audio can be instantly replicated and shared online, reaching a global audience, maintaining the connection between creators and their content has become a significant challenge. This issue particularly affects artists and creators, who often see their work shared without proper copyright recognition. The Brazilian BRICS Chairship has made this issue a priority for discussion within the Culture Working Group (WG), which held its first online technical meeting this week under the coordination of Brasil’s Ministry of Culture (MinC).

"We are working to advance regulatory mechanisms in the field of digital copyright," explained Bruno Melo, head of the Special Advisory on International Affairs at Brasil’s Ministry of Culture and coordinator of the WG. According to Melo, the issue has been under discussion since Brasil’s G20 Chairship last year and remains a key topic on the agenda. "We hope to strengthen our position within #BRICS, reflecting the Global South’s perspective on this issue," he added. 

As a result of this discussion, the working group is expected to create a catalog of best practices for copyright protection in the digital environment. According to Melo, Brazil has relevant experience to contribute:

"Several bills on AI and copyright are currently under discussion in the National Congress," he noted. 

#NEWS #Brazil #AI #culture

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BRICS debates trade, investment, economic cooperation, and multilateralism

Under Brasil's BRICS Chairship, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) coordinated the online technical meetings of the Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) held this week.

The meetings addressed three priority themes: the negotiation of the #BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy for 2026-2030, the importance of the multilateral trade system, with the World Trade Organisation (#WTO) at its center, and policies to boost data economy among the countries that integrate the economic bloc.

The delegation shared political and practical experiences related to national data governance frameworks and discussed alternatives to improve data economy. The goal is to improve the flows among member countries and reach an understanding about the BRICS data economy governance.

#NEWS #trade #investments

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Russia and China discuss the Korean Peninsula: seeking balance in the region

On 28 March, consultations were held in Moscow between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and Liu Xiaoming, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Korean Peninsula Affairs. Both sides noted the similarity or alignment of their assessments regarding the causes of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The parties underscored the necessity of resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula through political and diplomatic means, based on mutual respect for sovereignty and adequate consideration of North Korea's security interests.

In this context, it is worth noting that #BRICS nations also advocate for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and support efforts to strengthen international security. They stress the importance of maintaining the central role of the United Nations (#UN) and its Security Council in upholding peace and security under the UN Charter and universally recognised norms of international law. An agreement was reached to continue close coordination, including within the UN Security Council, to prevent further deterioration in the subregion and steer developments towards a positive trajectory.

#NEWS #RussiaChina #security #diplomacy #politics

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