The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries agree that the bloc needs new members while retaining its original character, according to Li Kexin, Director-General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of International Economic Affairs.
 
China wishes to keep the BRICS format open to new members' participation. Despite the fact that there are no set dates for the expansion, all BRICS countries agree on this, according to Li Kexin.
 
"I believe there is a shared understanding that we need to enlarge, get 'new faces,'" he said at a press conference dedicated to the results of the 14th BRICS summit in Beijing. The diplomat emphasized that the goal of the BRICS expansion is not to create a new bloc.
 
According to the director-general, BRICS leaders are working to reach an agreement on potential future members. "There are several countries currently 'at the door,' for example, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina," he said. 
 
As stated in the Beijing Declaration of the XIV BRICS Summit, BRICS leaders support the continuation of discussions on the expansion process, particularly through the Sherpas' channel.

Read next: Xi warns against 'expanding' military ties at BRICS summit

Two days ago, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed Iran's readiness to use its potential to help BRICS to reach its goals.

BRICS, a group of countries consisting of emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - has been functioning on a working mechanism that runs against the tide of the economic and political isolation of Russia which is created by NATO.

At a virtual summit of the BRICS Business Forum, Raisi delivered a speech in which he spoke of Iran's willingness to use its unique energy reserves, wealth, manpower, and transportation networks to help BRICS achieve its goals. 

He started off by congratulating Xi Jinping, China's president, on holding the summit and inviting Iran to the dialogue, then went on to address a few points in the conference, which went under the title "Participating in Global Development in the New Era".

Earlier in May, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that China would initiate the process of BRICS expansion. He stated that it will demonstrate BRICS openness and inclusiveness, meet the expectations of developing countries, increase their representation and voice in global governance, and contribute more to global peace and development.