Russia to host the 2026 annual meeting of BRICS New Development Bank

Russia will host the 2026 annual meeting of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), according to an announcement on the Russian Ministry of Finance website.

“During the bank's 10th Anniversary Board of Governors Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, applications from Colombia and Uzbekistan to join the New Development Bank (NDB) were approved. It was also confirmed that Russia will host the next annual meeting in 2026," the Ministry stated.

With the addition of Colombia and Uzbekistan, the NDB's membership now stands at 11 countries. Current members include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Bangladesh, the UAE, Egypt, and Algeria.

The governors also reviewed progress on implementing the bank's current strategic initiatives during the Rio de Janeiro meetings.

#NEWS #NDB

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Representatives from the BRICS nations and partner states took part in a session of the XVII BRICS Summit "Strengthening the Multilateral World Order, Financial and Economic Issues, Artificial Intelligence."

Artificial intelligence (AI) governance emerged as a prominent topic during the discussions. In their declaration, the leaders committed to fostering the development of global principles for AI technology that prioritise inclusivity, sustainable development, and respect for human rights.

"Global AI governance should mitigate potential risks and meet the needs of all countries, especially those in the Global South," the document asserts.

The declaration stipulates that mechanisms for AI regulation must align with national legislative frameworks and adhere to the UN Charter. They should respect state sovereignty, be representative and development-oriented, as well as remain accessible, inclusive, and transparent, ensuring the safety of all parties.

The authors of the declaration expressed their opposition to fragmentation and duplication in global AI development efforts, warning that such actions could exacerbate existing disparities and undermine the effectiveness of global governance in digital technologies. The document underscored the UN's crucial role in establishing unified regulatory approaches for AI.

The BRICS nations advocated for the creation of open AI models, enhanced scientific and technical collaboration, and the establishment of international standards that foster trust, compatibility, and security. They also emphasised the importance of preventing standardisation from becoming a barrier to market access for developing economies.

In the final section of the declaration, a cautious stance was taken regarding Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which may eventually be capable of independent reasoning, learning, and self-awareness. The BRICS countries agreed to cultivate a unified stance and engage more actively in global discussions on AI governance under the auspices of the United Nations.

#NEWS #AI #summit

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Dear Mr Ryabkov,

Please accept our heartfelt congratulations on your birthday! On this special day, we wish you good health, boundless energy, and the inspiration to reach new professional heights.

Your experience, wisdom, and dedication illuminate the path for your colleagues and fellow enthusiasts. We are particularly grateful for your unwavering support and active involvement in the projects of the BRICS Expert Council—your contributions to the advancement of international cooperation are truly invaluable.

With all our best wishes, we hope you find happiness and continued success!

BRICS Expert Council-Russia

@MFARussia

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Geopolitical turbulence and Global South leadership: BRICS Academic Forum held in Brazil

The recently adopted declaration in Rio de Janeiro features significant recognition of academic cooperation within BRICS. In paragraph 115, the member states' leaders voiced their support for the BRICS Academic Forum, highlighting its crucial role in the partnership.

“We reaffirm the importance of BRICS people-to-people exchanges in enhancing mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation. We acknowledge that people-to-people exchanges play an essential role in enriching our societies and developing our economies and appreciate the progress made under Brazil’s Chairship in 2025, including the Parliamentary Forum, the Business Council, the Women’s Business Alliance, the Youth Council, the Trade Union Forum, the Think Tank Council, the Academic Forum, the Deans Forum, the Civil Council, the Small and Medium Enterprises Forum, the Association of Cities and Municipalities, the Supreme Audit Institutions, the Legal Forum, the BRICS Supreme Court Presidents Meeting and the Meeting of Heads of BRICS Prosecution Services,” — states the document.

On June 25–26, 2025, the capital of Brazil played host to the BRICS Academic Forum, which brought together representatives from the academic and expert communities of the BRICS nations and their partners.

This event served as a platform for openly exchanging ideas and forging collaborative initiatives aimed at bolstering the BRICS influence on the global stage. This year's forum centred on enhancing cooperation among the Global South nations amid geopolitical turbulence and rapid technological advancements. Participants engaged in discussions covering a wide range of critical topics, including global health, management of artificial intelligence, trade, investment and finance, climate change, the reform of multilateral peace and security frameworks, and institutional development.

Victoria Panova, Vice Rector at HSE University, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, and Russia's Sherpa in the Women's Twenty, delivered a welcome address during the opening session. She emphasised that over the past 17 years, the Academic Forum has evolved into a vital arena for uncovering breakthrough solutions and engaging in collaborative intellectual endeavours.

The expert underscored the growing significance of the Global South, noting projections that by 2030, its share in the world economy will surpass 57%, with trade among these nations potentially reaching $14 trillion. Additionally, Dr Panova presented the findings of the first comprehensive review of BRICS members' compliance with their commitments, prepared in 2024 in collaboration with the BRICS Think Tanks Council. Announcing plans to conduct this assessment annually, she also introduced an electronic repository of BRICS documents—a unique resource for researchers and practitioners that contains all key BRICS materials since the group's inception.

After two days of intensive discussions, expert recommendations were endorsed and relayed through Sherpas to the BRICS leaders ahead of the BRICS Summit. These recommendations encompass key areas of the agenda—from establishing an equitable global governance framework to enhancing coordination on climate initiatives, digital transformation, and strengthening BRICS institutions.

📎 Read more on the website of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia

#NEWS #summit #AcademicForum

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Russian Finance Minister Siluanov elected to lead NDB Board of Governors

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has been chosen to chair the Board of Governors of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).

"The Board of Directors has elected Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation and Governor of Russia at the NDB, as the next Chairperson of the Board of Governors," the bank’s Press Service confirmed in an official statement.

Siluanov will serve in this role until the next scheduled board meeting in 2026.

#NEWS #NDB

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PhosAgro delivers 4 million tonnes of fertilisers to BRICS nations in 2024

In 2024, Russian company PhosAgro delivered 4 million tonnes of fertilisers to BRICS countries, with exports to Brazil doubling over the past five years. This information was shared by Mikhail Sterkin, the company's Deputy CEO for Sales and Marketing.

"Last year, we supplied 4 million tonnes of fertilisers to the BRICS countries, primarily to Brazil, India, and South Africa," he stated during the Russia-Brazil Business Forum currently taking place in Rio de Janeiro.

Sterkin highlighted the remarkable growth in deliveries to Brazil: while in 2020, exports amounted to 1.2 million tonnes, by 2024, this number surged to 2.3 million tonnes.

#NEWS #production

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BRICS: The Future Trump Can’t Ignore

“There is no doubt that BRICS is the future, and it is more reflected when President Donald Trump is saying that BRICS countries will have a 10% tariff,” Samir Bhattacharya, an associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, India, told Sputnik Africa.

🌎 BRICS is no longer just a reaction to Western economic dominance – it’s a multipolar force shaping gender equality, climate change, counter-terrorism, and global development banks, he explained.

📈 As African nations line up to join, the bloc’s growing influence is undeniable.

Trump’s tariffs only prove how unstoppable BRICS has become.

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The BRICS Policy Centre has released the Guide to Understanding BRICS, offering insights into the group's key characteristics and operations.

The guide covers these fundamental aspects:

⚪What is BRICS?
⚪Formation and Expansion: From BRIC to BRICS+
⚪What Unites BRICS?
⚪BRICS: How does it work?
⚪What is BRICS's role in Brazil?
⚪Intra-BRICS Relations
⚪New Development Bank
⚪BRICS global governance
⚪Civil society engagement in BRICS
⚪Towards the 2025 Summit: "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance"

📎 View the publication

#ANALYTICS

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Arctic Laboratory of BRICS Youth Projects

From July 28 to August 1, 2025, the northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk will host the BRICS Project Lab Arctic — an international workshop for young innovators from the BRICS nations.

Organised by MGIMO University's Scientific Student Society, this event forms part of the Youth Track at the III Arctic – Regions Forum, led by the Government of the Arkhangelsk Region.

Participants will collaborate to develop projects focused on Arctic development and strengthening BRICS cooperation in the region. Working in teams, they will devise concrete solutions for first-priority Arctic challenges and present their proposals to experts from partner organisations.

📎 Learn more about the event (in Russian)

@bricsprojectlab

#ANNOUNCEMENT #Arctic #youth

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BRICS aims to take lead in creating institutions in emerging fields

The BRICS nations plan to establish international institutions in emerging domains like artificial intelligence and climate finance. This vision was articulated by Igor Makarov, Head of School of World Economy and the Laboratory for Economics of Climate Change at HSE University, and an expert at the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, during a TASS roundtable analysing outcomes of the Rio de Janeiro Summit.

Makarov observed that at the XVII BRICS Summit, the group was able to identify several critical areas for intensified cooperation and institutional leadership.

"First and foremost, this involves climate finance, for which a dedicated framework programme has already been developed and released. The second priority area is artificial intelligence," Makarov stated.

The expert highlighted the current vacuum in global AI governance structures.

"The BRICS countries find themselves at varying stages of AI development with divergent interests in this sphere," Makarov explained.

Nevertheless, the expert highlighted the group's effort to establish foundational principles in this vital area:

"While these framework principles remain broad, they represent the first document of its kind, where nations of this scale collectively articulate their approach to artificial intelligence and attempt to define core implementation standards respecting both equality principles and national characteristics," Makarov concluded.

#NEWS #AI #summit #climate

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BRICS at Inostranka: A new educational project on BRICS launched in Moscow

What challenges are African nations facing today? Why is India striving to reclaim its historical name "Bharat"? What lies behind the enigma of Chinese thought? How is Indonesia emerging as a new power hub in Southeast Asia? And what connects all these things to BRICS?

The BRICS Expert Council-Russia, based at HSE University, along with the BRICS+ Information and Cultural Media Centre—a collaborative effort between TV BRICS and the Library for Foreign Literature—present BRICS at Inostranka, a new educational project featuring a series of lectures, discussions, and workshops focused on the BRICS nations.

Participants will gain unique perspectives from prominent researchers, seasoned practitioners, industry experts, and specialists with deep BRICS expertise.

This series will serve as a platform for open dialogue about the current realities of the BRICS nations. Together with experts, we will delve into discussions on culture, history, foreign policy, and the role these countries play in today's world. Participants will gain insights into how the BRICS nations collaborate, the challenges they face in fostering cooperation, and what drives them to unite for a shared future. The inaugural events will take place during the 4th Annual African Cultures Festival, organised by the Frankoteque Cultural Centre.

Stay tuned for announcements and join us at the Library for Foreign Literature—for what promises to be a truly enlightening, timely, and vibrant exploration of BRICS!

@hse_official
@generationbrics
@libfl
@tvbrics
@mediacenter_brics

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Book Presentation: "Africa 2025: Prospects and Challenges" at Inostranka

Join us for a presentation of the book "Africa 2025: Prospects and Challenges" hosted by the BRICS Expert Council-Russia in collaboration with the BRICS+ Information and Cultural Media Centre. This insightful analytical collection delves into the pivotal trends shaping the development of the African continent.

The publication offers a comprehensive examination of challenges and opportunities facing Africa in the near future.

Key topics include:

✔Food security and food sovereignty in Africa
✔Digital transformation
✔The role of education in cultivating African leaders
✔African business: new regional and global players

Andrey Maslov, Director of the Centre for African Studies at HSE University, will present the book. He leads a dedicated team of experts who contributed to this work.

The event is part of the Annual African Cultures Festival and will take place in the BRICS+ Information and Cultural Media Centre at the Library for Foreign Literature.

📎 More information on the website

@hse_official
@generationbrics
@libfl
@tvbrics
@mediacenter_brics

#ANNOUNCEMENT

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BRICS: Empowering Indigenous Knowledge and Africa’s Agenda

“The Russians wanted to promote this non-Western civilization by sharing knowledge… They want to promote the indigenous knowledge, the indigenous environment, the indigenous societies, our fellow civilizations to be safe,” said Yitena Gebre Mamo, Multilateral Affairs Research Director General, Institute of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.

🌎 BRICS attracts countries due to:
▶️Massive economic weight, high GDP, and large population sizes.
▶️Geopolitical influence counterbalancing Western domination.
▶️Acting as the voice of the Global South for sustainable development.

🌎 BRICS is:
▶️A platform reaffirming multilateralism beyond UN structures.
▶️Focused on Africa’s untapped resources and productive networks.
▶️Promoting cross-border digital payment mechanisms to boost trade.

🌎 The bloc supports:
▶️Indigenous knowledge systems suppressed by neoliberal philosophy.
▶️Reduced reliance on Western-dominated financial systems (IMF, World Bank) by promoting local currencies and reducing loan conditionalities.

“The African agenda and the agenda of the BRICS are almost similar… BRICS is also promoting the African agenda, African problem, African solution for African problem,” he told Sputnik Africa, commenting on the recent BRICS Summit in Brazil.

🇺🇸 As US sanctions rise:
▶️BRICS accelerates alliance formation, financial infrastructure, and South-South trade cooperation.
▶️Ethiopia leverages BRICS to diversify from traditional Western sources towards Eastern investment and trade opportunities.

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Trump gets ready to challenge BRICS but meets economic reality

On July 6–7, Brazil hosted the BRICS Summit amid escalating international tensions. This event marked a significant milestone in intra-BRICS collaboration and highlighted the ongoing economic rivalry between the United States and BRICS nations.

During the Summit, Russian leader Vladimir Putin delivered a noteworthy update via videoconference: the combined GDP of the BRICS member states has now surpassed that of the G7.

This announcement came as Donald Trump vowed on social media to impose 10% tariffs on nations supporting BRICS' "anti-American" policies. However, these proposed measures seem relatively tame, especially considering he had previously floated the idea of tariffs as high as 60–70%.

Putin’s timing in revealing these figures serves a clear strategic purpose: to showcase the growing collective strength and influence of BRICS on the global stage. Where critics once dismissed the group as merely populous, it now stands as an undeniable economic counterweight to Western dominance.

Looking ahead, the dynamic between BRICS and the G7 promises growing complexity. As the group's economic influence expands, its impact on global markets will deepen substantially. The critical question remains: Will Trump's threatened measures intimidate BRICS members or instead galvanise their unity against external pressure? The answer may well define the next era of international relations.

#OPINION #USA #G7 #summit

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Russian architects explore BRICS professional union

The Union of Architects of Russia is developing plans to create a Union of BRICS Architects, President Nikolay Shumakov announced.

"International cooperation is progressing well. A BRICS Architects Union may be established this year— we're negotiating this possibility. We remain optimistic and are working actively toward this goal."

The Union President detailed recent collaborations with Chinese architects:

"We organised a large-scale Russian architecture exhibition a year and a half ago, featuring our members' projects alongside workshops with leading practitioners. Together with Chinese partners, we conducted a major young architects' competition involving about 1,500 Russian and Chinese participants," he added.

#NEWS #culture

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BRICS Summit: New frontiers in global health cooperation

Natalia Bondarenko, Co-Chair of the Public Health and Well-Being Working Group under the BRICS Civil Forum, Deputy Chair for Healthcare and Social Sphere at the Union of Women of Russia, Chief External Expert for Therapy and General Practice at the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Chief Medical Officer at Clinical Hospital No. 85 of the FMBA of Russia, Candidate of Sciences in Medicine (PhD), shared her insights on public health cooperation following the BRICS Summit in Brazil:

"The recent BRICS Summit and Civil Council meetings achieved significant breakthroughs in international medical collaboration. Special attention was paid to the XV BRICS Health Ministers' meeting in Brasília on June 17, 2025, where participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the resilience of healthcare systems and promoting cooperation," Bondarenko noted.

She highlighted several key outcomes:

"A crucial advancement was the official recognition of the BRICS Network of Public Health Institutes as the primary platform for cross-national health dialogue. This network will be instrumental in achieving universal health coverage and ensuring equitable access to essential medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and health services. Participants also agreed on the necessity to harmonise legal frameworks governing these areas," she explained.

Bondarenko also highlighted that special attention was given to the role of primary healthcare as the cornerstone of health systems, along with the critical importance of prevention and emergency response.

"The participants pledged to continue substantive dialogue within civil track that will both strengthen existing cooperation models and pioneer innovative solutions to pressing global challenges related to health and well-being," she concluded.

@kb85fmba

#OPINION #EXPERT

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