Arab News, Saturday, Aug 26, 2023 | Safar 9, 1445
Saudi Arabia ‘appreciates’ BRICS invitation: FM
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia appreciates an invitation by BRICS to join the group and
would study the details before the proposed Jan. 1 joining date, the Kingdom’s
foreign minister said on Thursday.
Speaking to Al-Arabiya, Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Kingdom would take
“the appropriate decision” regarding the matter.
The foreign minister added that BRICS was “a beneficial and important channel”
to strengthen economic cooperation.
Earlier on Thursday, Prince Faisal said the Kingdom is looking forward to
developing more cooperation with BRICS nations.
“We look forward to developing this cooperation to create new developmental and
economic opportunities and elevate our relationship to the aspired level,”
Prince Faisal told the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
Saudi Arabia stresses the importance of activating collective and multilateral
action, he said, and his country is keen to exercise its responsibilities to
sustain international cooperation within BRICS.
Prince Faisal also said the Kingdom will also continue to be a reliable source
of energy and had the tools to maintain stable energy markets.
The BRICS group of nations decided at a summit this week in Johannesburg to
invite six countries – Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates – to become new members of the bloc, South African
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.
BRICS membership of new countries will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, said
Ramaphosa.
Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have agreed
to expand their group, which would be the first expansion since 2010.
UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed praised the decision to include his country in
BRICS.
In a statement, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi thanked BRICS leaders for
inviting his country to join the group, vowing to work with other members for
the benefit of developing countries.
“We look forward to coordinate with BRICS to achieve the group’s goals in
supporting economic cooperation and raise the voice of countries in the south
regarding different challenges that we face,” he said.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali hailed his country’s accession to the
bloc as a ‘great moment’ for his country.
“Ethiopia stands ready to cooperate with all for an inclusive and prosperous
global order,” he said.