Alexander Korolev, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at HSE University; Expert, BRICS Expert Council-Russia, offered his insights on Vietnam's recent accession to BRICS as a partner state.

"Vietnam joined BRICS later than other ASEAN nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, earning its status as a partner state. This delay from Hanoi likely stemmed from the tariff pressures imposed by Washington and Vietnam's careful consideration of potential risks. Currently, Vietnam faces one of the highest tariff duties in the region, standing at 46%. Interestingly, Vietnam chose to officially align with BRICS precisely during active negotiations aimed at reshaping its tariff landscape and reassessing its trade, economic, and investment relations with the United States."

The expert also highlighted why deeper engagement with #BRICS holds promise for Vietnam:

"Closer integration into BRICS is driven by two key factors. Firstly, it presents an opportunity for Vietnam to bolster its status as a developing middle power within the Global South while enhancing the multi-vector and multilateral nature of its foreign policy. Secondly, it allows Vietnam to engage more deeply with BRICS projects and initiatives, particularly the Grain Exchange aimed at ensuring food security. Overall, for Vietnam, BRICS serves as a vital channel for invigorating trade, economic, and investment cooperation with other Global South partners, especially those in Africa and the Middle East amid ongoing trade wars."

@askorolev1993

#OPINION #Vietnam #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia

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Tempo do Mundo invites authors to contribute to the special issue “BRICS: Key Challenges and Brazil's Chairship in 2025”

Since its inception, BRICS has been actively cultivating expert platforms for strategic dialogue, notably through the Think Tank Council (BTTC) and the Academic Forum. Under Brazil's leadership, the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) spearheads these important mechanisms.

Over the past 15 years, IPEA has amassed a rich repository of research data, concepts, and information on BRICS activities. A landmark achievement was the publication in 2020 of the 22nd issue of Tempo do Mundo journal, titled “Ten Years of BRICS: Key Challenges.” This edition was coordinated by Ivan Oliveira, Brazil's Alternate Member of the Supervisory Board at the New Development Bank, alongside Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia.

The forthcoming special issue of Tempo do Mundo, “BRICS: Key Challenges and the Brazilian Chairship in 2025,” invites researchers, developers, and policymakers to submit articles that delve into various facets of Brazil's Chairship in BRICS, as well as the implications and challenges it poses for Brazil, South America, and the Global Majority.

Key research topics include:

✔The role of BRICS in global governance: exploring prospects and challenges for reforming multilateral institutions and fostering a more equitable world order.

✔International financial architecture: assessing major achievements and proposals for establishing a common currency, new payment systems, and financing mechanisms for development projects.

✔South America and BRICS: identifying key opportunities and challenges for regional integration, along with Brazil’s role in forging connections between BRICS and South American nations.

✔Partner states and their engagement with BRICS: strategies for integrating new countries and their potential impact on the group's international standing.

✔New Development Bank (NDB): examining the bank's role in financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects, as well as prospects for its strengthening and expansion.

This special issue will prepared under the guidance of Ya Tan (University of International Business and Economics, China) and Jafar Bedru Geletu (Ethiopian Institute of Foreign Affairs).

Join this vital discussion on the future of #BRICS and Brazil's role in shaping a more equitable system of global governance!

🔥 Submission deadline: August 15, 2025

📎 For more information, please visit the Tempo do Mundo website

#ANNOUNCEMENT #Brazil

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Comments to the BRICS Academic forum session "Institutional Development" by Irina Kostetskaya, Coordinator, Russian Chapter, BRICS Civil Council; Expert, BRICS Expert Council-Russia

🕊 BRICS fundamentally differs from the G20. While the latter operates as a club, BRICS functions more like a family — a unique format of interaction. This metaphor captures the distinct nature of the bloc, which is built upon the foundational principles of mutual respect, equality, and cooperative engagement.

These fundamental differences highlight the need for a careful approach to any potential structural changes within BRICS, ensuring that its core values and principles remain intact.

When discussing the shared values among #BRICS countries, it is important to distinguish between terminal values — conceptual ideas about how the world should be structured — and instrumental values — practical approaches to navigating the global landscape.

🕊 Should a family-based institution transform into a bureaucratic organisation, or should it prioritise more flexible interaction forms? This fundamental question must be addressed before considering the establishment of a secretariat.

It is crucial to caution against the phenomenon of mimetic isomorphism — the blind imitation of successful practices from the Western world. When adopting a normative framework, we inevitably incorporate underlying values as well. In our context, we are likely dealing with a hybrid model, where Western democratic practices are critically re-evaluated through the lens of our core principles.

🕊 By maintaining a balanced approach, we can preserve the integrity of our institutional development while incorporating beneficial elements from various sources, ensuring that our unique principles remain at the core of all decision-making processes.

#EXPERT #OPINION #AcademicForum #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia

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The BRICS Expert Council—Russia presented the results of BRICS cooperation progress

On the margins of the BRICS Academic Forum, Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia and Vice-Rector at HSE University, presented a study released in 2024.

The exclusive report "BRICS Cooperation Progress According to BTTC Indicator System" was prepared by the BRICS Expert Council—Russia with the support of the BRICS Think Tank Council (BTTC), based on the results of Russia’s BRICS Chairship in 2024.

It uses a comprehensive indicator system that showcases progress in cooperation across various areas, highlights key achievements, and identifies areas that require further collaboration.

The report reviews the achievements of #BRICS in several critically important areas:
🕊financial indicators and cooperation in finance
🕊economic development and trade
🕊climate and sustainable development
🕊sustainable development and resource abundance
🕊education and technologies

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertReport

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BRICS and Brazil: Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance

This tenth edition of the BRICS Academic Review is released at a time of renewed global interest in the BRICS formation. Brazil holds the 2025 chairship under the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance", focusing on sustainable development, institutional reform, and enhanced collaboration among emerging powers. These priorities are reflected throughout this issue.

The journal also highlights key projects of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia. Special attention is paid to the BRICS International School, an initiative aimed at training future BRICSologists, as well as BRICS+ Blind Football International Friendly Tournament, which promotes social inclusion of people with disabilities.

We kindly invite you to read the publication to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the initiatives for interaction and co-operation among #BRICS countries.

📎 Link to the issue

#BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSSchool #blindfootball

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25 years of co-operation between Russia and Brazil

On 22 June 2000, Russia and Brazil signed the Partnership Agreement, which became the cornerstone for the development of bilateral cooperation. This document laid the foundation for a strategic partnership, which over 25 years has opened new horizons and brought many large-scale projects.

Victor Heifetz, expert of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of St. Petersburg State University, Chief Researcher of the Institute of Latin America of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Editor-in-Chief of the Latin America Journal, shared his views on the dynamics of Russia-Brazil relations.

"Brazil was not among the Soviet Union's main partners, both in the trade and economic spheres as well as in the political sphere. The ties with the country were rather symbolic. In fact, Russia began to build relations with this country only after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and they were built at once quite rapidly, quite globally", said the expert.

Analysing the current state of trade turnover, Victor Heifetz notes that it varies from 12 to 14 billion dollars, making up at least 60-70 per cent of the total trade turnover with Latin America.

Speaking about the political aspects, the expert points out that there are a significant number of similarities between the two countries in their approaches to multilateral peace. However, he also notes that Brazil has taken a critical stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"While in 2014 Brazil abstained from voting at the UN General Assembly, in 2022 Brazil voted against the Russian position and was the only BRICS member to do so, the rest abstained. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Lula da Silva has repeatedly spoken of wanting to bring the two countries to peace talks and was one of the few world leaders to attend the 80th Anniversary of Victory in May 2025. We are, two countries on similar courses, but not the same. Brazil is much more reserved in its relations with Western countries, and it does not have the goal of acting as an antagonist. It rather wants to find a balance and is nervous about the attempts of some #BRICS members to take a tougher stance against Western countries," said Victor Heifetz.

The expert summarises by noting that Brazil is confidently asserting Russia as a long-term partner, even despite persistent disagreements. This emphasises both the potential and the complexity of their relationship, which, according to the expert, will be of great importance in the future.

@ila_ran

#EXPERT #OPINION #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #RussiaBrazil #diplomacy

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In touch with BRICS: news digest

Your quick rundown of the most important BRICS updates

✔Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: BRICS will not have its own banknote

✔Conference "BRICS and Africa: political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation"

✔BRICS joint statement on the escalation of security situation in the Middle East

✔BRICS Academic Forum started in Brazil

✔Sergey Lavrov to lead Russian delegation at BRICS Summit in Brazil

✔Victoria Panova speaks at the Primakov Readings Youth Session

✔Tempo do Mundo invites authors to contribute to the special issue "BRICS: Key Challenges and Brazil's Chairship in 2025"

✔BRICS Expert Council-Russia presented the results of BRICS cooperation progress

✔BRICS and Brazil: Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance

✔25 years of cooperation between Russia and Brazil

#BRICSExpertCouncilDIGEST

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Konstantin Vishnevskiy, Expert at the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, Head of Centre for Strategic Analysis and Big Data, Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge at HSE University, commented on the further development of AI. The expert noted that coordination between the BRICS countries is necessary for the creation and development of large language models.

"Only a handful of nations currently possess the capability to develop their own large language models (LLMs) as they require staggering computing power, vast training datasets, technical talent, and more. Moreover, even the smallest error or distortion in these AI "values," when amplified by hundreds of millions of users, can escalate into a global issue. Thus, it is crucial for the #BRICS nations to collaborate in crafting "unbiased" LLMs that respect and reflect the values and traditions of their diverse cultures", Konstantin Vishnevskiy stated.

According to the expert, a coordinated policy of the BRICS countries in the field of artificial intelligence management should balance security issues.

"A unified policy among the BRICS countries on AI governance should strike a balance between security (encompassing data, models, and the implications of their use), technological advancement, and the safeguarding of national interests.

The establishment of shared "rules of the game" and the consolidation of efforts among the BRICS nations is feasible under the International AI Foresight initiative. This project aims to forge a collective vision for priority areas of exploratory research in AI and was commissioned by the Russian President at AI Journey 2025", expert concluded.

#EXPERT #OPINION #BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #AI

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Brazil is preparing for the BRICS summit

The BRICS Summit will be held from 6 to 7 July in Rio de Janeiro.

So far, the following representatives of the #BRICS countries have confirmed their participation:
🇧🇷 Brazil - President Lula da Silva
🇷🇺 Russia - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
🇮🇳 India - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
🇨🇳 China - Premier of the State Council Li Qiang
🇿🇦 South Africa - President Cyril Ramaphosa
🇪🇹 Ethiopia - Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali
🇮🇷 Iran - President Masoud Pezeshkian
🇮🇩 Indonesia - President Prabowo Subianto
🇦🇪 UAE - President Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan

The main outcome of the Summit will be a joint declaration by the BRICS leaders.

#Summit #Brazil

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