Iran expresses readiness to help BRICS reach goals

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, today, Saturday, 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.

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

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".

The current global difficulties and situation have made cooperation of increased importance: "Emerging crises such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, as well as regional and international conflicts have made interaction between countries doubly necessary. On the other hand, we see collective experiences and wills to overcome problems that, in the form of collective institutions and arrangements, facilitate the realization of collective development initiatives and the pursuit of global common interests."

"Conflicting global trends, unilateralism, nationalist preferences, and challenges such as sanctions and coercive economic action underscore the importance of creating and strengthening new institutions alongside the United Nations, so that while respecting the sovereignty and national interests of nations, important steps can be taken for the realization of a “Human Society with Common Future".

Raisi continued to praise BRICS by saying that it has played an effective role in developing South-South relations and advancing economic initiatives that connect continents, such as the One Belt-One Road Initiative.

He said, "The agenda of this meeting also shows the connection between development and security, peace, health, environment and innovation. Proposals such as the Global Security Initiative also provide a good platform for shaping organized cooperation."

Raisi's speech concluded with Tehran's promise to share resources to "take lasting steps in the process of its national development with the help of a culture of independence-seeking and right-seeking."