The efforts to enhance the role of developing countries in the global governance system were clearly evident at the 16th BRICS Summit, which was recently held in Kazan, Russia.
In its capacity as BRICS Chair in 2024, Russia chose "Strengthening multilateralism for fair global development and security" as the summit’s theme. The enhancement of multilateralism for a more just and democratic multipolar world was a theme discussed throughout the meetings and activities of the summit.
BRICS leaders noted that efforts to reform multilateral institutions and the international financial system have been delayed. While stressing the central role of the United Nations in maintaining peace, security, and promoting sustainable development, BRICS argued that the world's largest multilateral organisation needs to be reformed to ensure effective operation, including expanding the representation of Asian, African, and Latin American countries.
BRICS also highlighted the importance of the reform of the international financial systems to make them more inclusive and fairer. The Kazan Declaration issued at the summit reaffirmed support for a rule-based, open, transparent, fair, and inclusive multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core, along with special treatment provisions for developing and least developed countries.
These points were emphasised during the Expanded BRICS Leaders’ Meeting, held as part of the 16th BRICS Summit. More than 30 leaders and senior representatives of BRICS member states along with invited guests, including from countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, participated in this expanded meeting, affirming the growing attractiveness of BRICS.
In early 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially joined BRICS. As a result, BRICS now accounts for nearly half of the world's population and more than one-third of global GDP.
Analysts have noted that as the position and influence of BRICS continue to rise, emerging economies and developing countries increasingly view it as a platform to balance strategic interests, diversify economic relations, and enhance their voice in global governance.
The Expanded BRICS Leaders’ Meeting not only showcases the appeal of the "golden bricks" group but also reflects BRICS's respect for developing countries.
The summit’s theme of “BRICS and the Global South: Together Building a Better World” illustrates the desire to find common voice on a range of urgent issues today, such as sustainable development, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, counterterrorism, and transnational crime. The 2024 BRICS Chair stressed that BRICS is ready to cooperate with countries in the Global South to promote comprehensive and sustainable development, aiming to build a better world where the sovereignty, positions, and interests of each nation are respected.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that BRICS is not a closed group and is open to countries that share common values. At the Kazan summit, BRICS leaders established criteria and regulations for the "partner country catalog".
The Kazan Declaration affirmed that BRICS believes that expanding partnerships with emerging economies and developing countries contributes to strengthening solidarity and international cooperation for the benefit of all people globally.
