Bangladesh’s joining BRICS depends on members: FM
Business Desk :
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the decision of BRICS’s expansion and Bangladesh’s joining depends on the BRICS members as there is a debate on its expansion.
“The decision depends on them.
It’s their debate.
It’s not us,” he told reporters on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when a reporter wanted to know whether Bangladesh is unlikely to get BRICS membership.
Momen said Africa is a rising star and Bangladesh wants to make stronger relations with the African countries, reports UNB.
“Our relations with the African countries are not much stronger.
We have opened two missions there.
The prime minister will give them instructions (to make greater efforts),” he said.
Earlier, an official spokesperson at India’s Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi said as mandated by the leaders last year, BRICS members are internally discussing the guiding principles, standards, criteria, and procedures for the BRICS expansion process based on full consultation and consensus.
“As our External Affairs Minister had mentioned, we are approaching this with an open mind and a positive outlook.
We have seen some baseless speculation that India has reservations against expansion.
This is simply not true,” he said in a media briefing on August 3.
China has said the expansion of BRICS is a political consensus reached by all five members of the grouping.
“China is committed to advancing the BRICS expansion and stands ready to bring more like-minded partners into the big family of BRICS,” said the Spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning commenting on Bangladesh’s approach to join BRICS.
On June 19, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh would welcome if BRICS invites it formally to join the grouping of five member states – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
“We will surely join once they invite us.
We are yet to receive any formal letter (inviting us to join).
BRICS leaders are thinking of taking some emerging economies – around eight new countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Bangladesh,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the BRICS Summit, scheduled to take place on August 22-24 in South Africa, said the Foreign Minister.
“We are not confirmed yet about the meetings on the sidelines.
We will let you know once those are confirmed,” spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin told reporters at the weekly media briefing.
Usually, the PM holds meetings with her counterparts from various countries on the sidelines of any summit or conference.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed his country’s readiness to host the historic XV Summit of BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
It will be the first BRICS Summit to be hosted in person since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global restrictions.
President Ramaphosa has in recent months and weeks held a number of consultations on the hosting of the summit.
The summit will be attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa.
