On October 26-28 MGIMO-University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Peoples´ Friendship University of Russia and MISiS university hosted the BRICS Global University Summit.

Download report to BRICS Global University Summit

From October 26th to 28th, the Global University summit BRICS was held on the premises of four top-ranked Moscow universities: MGIMO, Lomonosov Moscow State University, People’s Friendship University and MISA. The event was put together as part of the 2015 Russian presidency of BRICS with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over 300 representatives from the ministries and leading universities of BRICS countries, as well as from international organizations and research centers got together to discuss issues of cooperation in the area of education and science, and to ponder the overall 2015 Agenda.

October 26th, right on the eve of the Summit, the guests gathered at the Bolshoi Theater for a gala evening to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UN. The Summit participants were welcomed by MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov and by the Russian Deputy Minister of Education and Science Veniamin Kaganov. The audience was then invited to review the report on the summit and to watch a film by M. Gusman dedicated to the history of the UN. An address by the President of Russia was read out by Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov. Following the official part, the guests enjoyed the ballets «Russian Seasons» and «Classical Symphony» directed by Alexei Ratmansky.

October 27th, MGIMO hosted all the participants of the Summit. The official opening ceremony was marked by the interventions by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, MGIMO Rector A. Torkunov, Russian Deputy Minister of Education and Science Alexander Klimov, the Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University Victor Sadovnichy and the Summit’s guest of honor Nasser Abdulaziz al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.

The plenary sessions were organized in two stages: key speakers’ talks and an open discussion. All those present could listen to expert opinions and pose questions. Many subjects were covered during the first day, including the bilateral and multilateral cooperation of BRICS countries in the domains of education, science and academic mobility, new technologies, transport, international security, economy, trade and industry.

October 28th, the second day of the Summit, the universities housed at their respective different sites various thematic panels. In particular, MGIMO played venue to the discussions dedicated to financial cooperation, global governance, international security, youth and investment policy, energy cooperation in the business community and higher education. Furthermore, on the sidelines of the summit, a meeting of the Association for university endowments took place.

Alongside the Global University Summit BRICS , the IX convention of the Russian Association of International Studies was unfolding at MGIMO, which in fact shared with the BRICS University summit an overarching topic. As a consequence, over 700 experts could participate in the joint event, contributing to substantial and fruitful debates.

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• Topic: «Problems and Challenges of the Modern World»
  (MGIMO University, 76, Prospect Vernadskogo str.)

  10:00 11:30	Plenary Session «BRICS as an Element of the Global Management» (special session of the Russian International Studies Association) Moderator: Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-chief of the “Russia in Global Affairs” journal Speakers: Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO University Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Vladimir Davydov, Director of the Institute of Latin America of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Dynkin, Director of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences Artem Malgin, Vice Rrector for general affairs, MGIMO University Venue: Hall 314
  11:30 12:00	Coffee-break
  12:00 13:00	Session «International Financial Architecture and the Prospects of the New Development Bank» Moderator: Leonid Grigoriev, Chief Advisor to the Head of the Analysis Centre under the Government of the Russian Federation, Professor at the Higher School of Economics Speakers: Arun Mohanty, Director of Eurasian Foundation, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India Amitabh Kundu, Senior Fellow Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, India Ravni Thakur, Senior Fellow Professor of Delhi University Elena Levitskaya, Professor of International Finance at MGIMO-University Elena Sidorova, Professor of International Economic Relations at MGIMO-University Phool Badan, Associate Professor of Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University Sanjay Kumar Pandey, Associate Professor of the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University Venue: Hall 423 Session «Youth Policy: the Role of Young Leaders in Forming BRICS global agenda» (together with Federal Agency for Youth Affairs) Moderators: Stanislav Surovtcev, Head of Youth Policy Department, MGIMO-University Vladimir Kovalev, Youth Policy Department Advisor, MGIMO-University Speakers: Sergei Pospelov, Head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs Dmitry Svishev, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Youth Affairs, Physical Culture and Sports Anton Inyutsyn, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Vadim Lukov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russia’s BRICS Sous-Sherpa Alexey Kvasov, Deputy Chief of Presidential Experts’ Directorate Alena Arshinova, Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Education Rustam Garifullin, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Russian Federation Denis Kravchenko, Deputy General Director for External Relations of the United Rocket and Space Corporation of the Russian Federation Vladimir Filippov, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture of Moscow Grigory Petushkov, Chairman of the National Youth Council of the Russian Federation Artem Davydov, Director of the Russian Centre for Youth Entrepreneurship Margarita Fedotova, First Vice-President of the Russia-Asia Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Tatiana Seliverstova, Head of International Department of the Russian Union of Youth Dilbar Sadykova, Executive Director of the Academy of Youth Diplomacy Maria Leticia Mazzucchi Ferreira, Coordinator of the Office of International Relations of the Federal University of Pelotas Venue: Hall 423
  13:30 14:30	Coffee-break
  13:30 16:00	Session «Mutual Trade and Investments Within BRICS: Is the Integration Possible?» (together with BRICS Business Council) Moderators: Natalia Piskulova, Professor of International Economic Relations at MGIMO-University Speakers: Vladimir Salamatov, Director of the Moscow World Trade Centre, Head of the Department Commercial affairs and trade regulations of MGIMO University Maksim Medvedkov, Director of the Trade Negotiations Department of the Ministry of the Economic Development of the Russian Federation, MGIMO professor Vladimir Padalko, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry Victor Katochkov, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, South Ural State University Siddarmaiah Indumati, Professor & Dean of Faculty of Arts of University of Mysore, India Anna Abramova, Assistant Professor of the Department of International Economic Relations and Foreign Economic ties, MGIMO University Ninel Seniuk, Professor of the Department of World Economy of MGIMO-University Ekaterina Arapova, Lecturer of the Department of Public Relations of MGIMO-University Venue: Hall 216 Session «BRICS Countries and Global Energy Security» Moderator: Valery Salygin, Director of International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Speakers: Nodari Simonia, Professor at the Department of International Issues in Energy of MGIMO, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Krivorotov, Head of Department, Secretary of the Board at Shtokman Development AG Konstantin Simonov, First Vice-Rector of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Nikolay Shvets, Vice-President of the Russian Engineering Union Sergey Vasiliev, Deputy Director of the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy of MGIMO-University Alexey Gromov, Director of Energy Department, Institute for Energy and Finance, Head of the World Energy Consulting Center Tshilidzi Marwala, Deputy Vice-Chancellor on Research, Post Graduate Studies, Library and Information Centre of the University of Johannesburg Aleksey Biryukov, Head of the Department of Protection in Emergency Situations of the State Agrarian University - Moscow Agricultural Academy Igbal Guliev, Senior analyst of the Center for Strategic Research and Geopolitics in Oil and Gas of the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy of MGIMO-University Igor Litvinyuk, Senior analyst of the Center for Strategic Research and Geopolitics in Oil and Gas of the International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy of MGIMO-University Oleg Timofeyev, assistant professor at the Department of Economy and Management in Oil and Gas industry of MGIMO-University Venue: Hall 423 Session «Business and education in BRICS countries» (joint session with the Russian Association of Business Education) Moderators: Sergey Myasoedov, President of the Russian Association of Business Education, vice-rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration Natalia Evtikhieva, Dean of the International School of Business of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Speakers: Vladimir Godin, Rector of the State University of Management Sergei Schennikov, Rector of the International Institute of Management LINK Sanjay Deshmukh, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai, India Angelika Mirzoeva, Director of the School of Business and International Proficiency of MGIMO-University Yulia Uzhakina, Director of the Rosatom Corporate Academy Yuri Moseikin, Director of the Institute of Global Economics and Busines of the Peoples` Friendship University of Russia Igor Skalsky, Project Manager of the RUSAL Corporate University Elena Aksenova, Director of the Corporate HydroPower University Vitaly Melgunov, Director of the Institute of Mining and Energy Law at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas Alena Zaytseva, Deputy Director for Marketing and Knowledge Management of the Corporate University of Russian Railways JSC Anastasya Topolova, Head of the Office for Training and Personal Development of the Inter RAO Venue: Hall 314
  16:00 16:30	Coffee-break
  16:30 18:00	Session «International security: nonproliferation of WMD and counterterrorist activity» Moderators: Vladimir Morozov, Vice-Rector of MGIMO University, associate professor of Diplomacy department, MGIMO University Alexander Nikitin, Professor of Political Theory Department, MGIMO University Speakers: Sergio Duarte, Ambassador, former UN Deputy Secretary General for Disarmament Alexey Kozhemyakov, Head of the Secretariat of the European Charter of the Council of Europe Wang Ning, Director of the Center for Russian Studies at the Shanghai International Studies University Pan Dawei, Director of the Centre for Central Asian and Russian Studies Yevgeny Voronin, Leading Researcher at the Euro-Atlantic Security Centre of MGIMO-University Siddharth Mallavarapu, Chairperson of Department of International Relations of the South Asian University Victor Mizin, Leading Researcher of the Centre for post-Soviet Studies of MGIMO-University Liu Ming, Executive Director of the Institute for International Relations of the Shanghai Academy for Social Sciences Abul Abhar Ramizpoor, Human Rights officer at the United Nation Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Member of the Pugwash Council Rana Banerji, Adjunct Senior Fellow at Delhi Policy Group Sergey Veselovsky, Assistant Professor of World Politics at MGIMO-University Karen Hallberg, Senior Fellow of the Bariloche Atomic Centre Zhang Li, Professor of International Relations at the Sichuan University Venue: Hall 216 Open meeting of the Association of the universities’ endowments (in Russian) Moderator: Marina Petrova, Director of MGIMO Endowment Fund Speakers: Svetlana Lavrova, Executive Director of Endowment Fund of the European University at St. Petersburg Igor Osipov, Directorman of the Endowment Fund, Rector's advisor on priority projects, Far Eastern Federal University Venue: Hall 423

• Topic: «Higher education in the BRICS countries: quality and its assessment»
  (The Lomonosov Moscow University, 27, Lomonosovsky Prospect)

  9:00 10:30	Session «Global Education and Universities: Modern Trends and a Look at the Future» Speakers: Ramamurti Rajaraman, Vice-president of the Indian National Science Academy Henry de Holanda Campos, Rector of the Federal University of Ceara-UFC, Brazil Sidney Luiz de Matos Mello, Rector of the Federal University of Fluminence, Brazil Orlando Afonso Valle do Amaral, Rector of the Federal University of Goiás Tang Wanhong, Vice-President of Nanjing Normal University Vivienne Lawack, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of the Western Cape Siddharth Mallavarapu, Head of International Relations Department, South-Asian University, India N.S. Murty, Dean, Post Graduate Studies, G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar Joaquim Bento Cavalcante Neto, Director of Information Technology, Federal University of Ceará Venue: TBC
  10:30 11:00	Coffee-break
  11:00 12:30	Session «National and global university rankings: prospects of development» Moderator: Oleg Gubin, Director of Educational Policy Development Institute, Moscow State University Speakers: Nadim Mahassen, President of Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) Orlando Afonso Valle do Amaral, Rector of the Federal University of Goiás Dalia Leil, Vice-President of Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) Mahomed Moolla, Manager of the Internationalization and Strategic Partnerships Office (ISPO) Rajiv Dusane, Dean for International Relations of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, University of the Witwatersrand Ajay Kumar Patnaik, Director of Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India Venue: TBC
  12:30 13:00	Coffee-break
  13:30 14:30	Session «Global ecology problems and a role of universities in solving them» Speakers: Mauro Augusto Burkert Del Pino, Rector of Federal University of Pelotas Alevtina Simonova, Rector of the Ural State Pedagogical University Viktor Koksharov, Rector of the Ural Federal University Boris Kostishko,  Rector of the Ulyanovsk State University Vitaly Rubtsov, Rector of the University of Psychology and Education of Moscow Mangala Rai, Vice-Chancellor of G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, India Vitaly Nagornov, Director of the Centre for International Development Assistance Roman Polozhevich, Consultant of the Moscow Government Marina Shulga, Director of the Centre of Sociological Research Irina Ozolina, Senior teacher of the Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University Francisco de Assis de Souza Filho, Professor of Federal University of Ceará Venue: TBC
  17:00 18:00	Transfer to MGIMO-University

• Topic: «Academic Studies and Modern Technologies»
  (National University of Science and Technology MISiS, 4, Leninsky prospeсt)

  10:00 11:00	Plenary session «Academic Science and Industrial Implementation of the Innovations» Speakers: Indranil Manna, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur Cheryl Merle de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria Yujie Feng, Deputy Director of State Kay Lab of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, China Patterson Patrício de Souza, Vice-Provost of Research and Post-Graduation, Federal Centre for Technical Education of Minas Gerais, Brazil Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi, Dean of Planning and Development of The Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil Sami Sulkko, Mayor of the city of Forssa, Finland Rozangela Curi Pedrosa, Director of the Department of Technological Innovation, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil Venue: TBC
  11:00 11:30	Coffee-break
  11:30 13:00	Session «Universities as the drivers of the “Knowledge-Based Economy”» Speakers: Targino de Araújo Filho, Rector of the Federal University of Sao Carlos, Brazil Zaki Akel Sobrinho, Rector of the Federal University of Parana Xue Qingguo, Vice President of the University of Science and Technology, Beijing Li Xinxin, Director of the University of Science and Technology, Beijing Liu Wei, Deputy Director of Institute for China-Russia Strategic Cooperation, Tsinghua University, China Michael Cosser, Head of Learning and Development at the HSRC BRICS Research Centre, Republic of South Africa Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi, Dean of Planning and Development of The Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil Li Liu, Dean of the School of Advanced Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Beijing Aparna Sivakumar, research fellow at Observer Research Foundation, India Qingliang Zhao, professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, China Allbens Atman Picardi Faria, Researcher at the Post Graduation Programme of Mathematical and Computational Modelling J. Kumar, Professor & Dean of College of Agriculture, G.B.Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, India S.R. Mahadeva Prasanna, Associate Dean of Research and Development, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), India Venue: TBC
  13:00 13:30	Coffee-break
  13:30 15:00	Session «Information Technologies for Modeling Socio-Economic and Industrial Systems» Speakers: Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi, Dean of Planning and Development of The Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil Cláudio Ballande Romanelli, professor at the Federal Institute for Education in Science and Technology, Brazil Finn R. Førsund, professor emeritus, University of Oslo, Department of Economics Ana Lucia Miranda Lopes, Professor of Management, Federal University de Mina Gerais, Brazil Marcelo Azevedo Costa, Associate Professor, Vice coordinator of the graduate program in Industrial Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil Roberto de Barros Mesquita, Assistant Professor, University of the State of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT), Brazil Venue: TBC
  15:00 15:30	Coffee-break
  15:30 17:00	Session «Smart Industries Based on Modern IT-Solutions» Speakers: Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi, Dean of Planning and Development of the Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil Anthony Orr, ITIL Author, Cyber-Resilence Examiner, President, Executive Advisor - Orr Research, LLC Laurent Valroff, Director of Dassault Systemes in Russia and CIS Ashis Bhattacherjee, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Department of Mining Engineering Venue: TBC
  17:00 18:00	Transfer to MGIMO-University

• Topic: «Education and Life Quality in BRICS Countries»
  (Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, 6, Miklukho-Maklaya str.)

  10:00 11:00	Plenary Session «Education in BRICS countries. BRICS Network University» Moderators: Vladimir M. Filippov, Rector of Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia Boris Zhelezov, Deputy Director International Department. Russian Ministry of Education and Science Speakers: Maxim Khomyakov, Vice-Rector of Ural Federal University (UrFU) in international affairs Zhao Guocheng, Minister Councilor for Education of the Chinese Embassy in Russia Gabisile Nkosi, First Secretary of the South African Embassy in Moscow Wellington Bujokas, Secretary on BRICS, Embassy of Brazil Paulo G. Fagundes Visentini, Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Economics, at Rio Grande do Sul Federal University Georgiy Toloraya, Head of National Committee on BRICS Research, Russia Joao P. Nogueira, Professor of International Relations at the International Relations Institute at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Senior Researcher of the BRICS Policy Center Fabiano Mielniczuk, Director at Audiplo, professor of International Relations at ESPM-Sul H.H.S. Viswanathan, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for International Relations Rakesh Basant, Professor of Economics and Chairperson, Center for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Liu Youfa, Vice President of China Institute of International Studies Yao Zhizhong, Assistant Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Deng Zemin, Vice President of the State Research Institute on V&T Education at the Beijing Normal University Livia Maria de Freitas Reis Teixeira, Director of International Relations Office in the Federal University of Fluminence, Brazil Gautam Biswas, Director of Indian Institute of Technology (Guwahati), India Sanjay Deshpande, Director of Centre for Central Eurasian Studies, University of Mumbai Venue: TBC
  11:00 11:30	Coffee-break
  11:15 12:45	Session «BRICS: Prospects of joint educational and practical activities for space exploration» Moderator: Yuri Razumny, professor, academician of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics by K.E. Tsiolkovsky, academician of the International Academy of Astronautics, member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Speakers: Giuseppe Reibaldi, Academician of International Academy of Astronautics, Head of Human Space Flight Department Antonio Prado, Head of space flight mechanics department, National Institute for Space Research, Brazil Sundaram Ramakrishnan, Distinguished Professor, former Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (India) Hao Zhaoping, Vice-President of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology Zhao Guozhu, Head of Department of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology Venue: TBC
  12:45 13:45	Lunch
  13:45 15:15	Session «Telemedicine and e-learning in medical care in BRICS countries» Moderators: Valery Stolyar, Executive Secretary, Russian Association of Telemedicine Jin Xiao, Director-General, Heilongjiang State Centre for Russia-China Scientific Cooperation and Industrial Transformation Speakers: Saroj Kanta Mishra, Head of the Department, Endocrine Surgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) and Nodal Officer of SGPGI Telemdicine Program, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India Anton Syroeshkin, professor of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry, PFUR Medical Institute Brauns Hans-Jochen, chairperson of German Society for Telemedicine, senior partner at Alpheios GmbH, Germany Venue: TBC
  15:15 15:30	Coffee-break
  15:30 17:00	Session «University rankings: problem of compatibility» Moderator: I. Arzhanova, the Executive Director of National Training Foundation Speakers: Zoya Zaitseva, Regional Director, Central Europe & Central Asia QS Jan Sadlak, President, IREG observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence Kazimierz Bilanow, Managing Director, IREG observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho, Secretary for International Affairs of Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil Venue: TBC
  17:00 18:00	Transfer to MGIMO-University

MGIMO-University is Russia's most prestigious educational institution for young people with international interests. For international students, MGIMO is that and more: a modern, welcoming, and intellectually stimulating place to study in Russia's greatest city.

In January 2005 Lomonosov Moscow State University celebrated its 250th anniversary, over 800 various events being held on the occasion. Founded in the XVIII century, the University has been constantly growing and encompassing new branches of learning and research. All the history of the University is the evidence of the outstanding role its alumni have played promoting the ideas of freedom, common good, humanity, and truth.

Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (PFUR) was founded on 5 February, 1960 by the USSR Government. On 22 February, 1961, the University was named after Patrice Lumumba - one of the symbols of the African peoples' fight for independence. The University's name was changed to the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia on 5 February, 1992 by the Government of the Russian Federation, which is considered as the University's founder.

The National University of Science and Technology MISiS has a proud and distinguished history, having celebrated its 80th anniversary in June 2010. It originated as the Department of Metallurgy in the Moscow Academy of Mines, which the Soviet government established in 1918, and in the following decades it went through several transformations before achieving its current designation.

The history of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation traces its roots back to 1934. It was established to teach and train the diplomatic and consular staff of Soviet foreign service. In 1939, the institution was regrouped into a Higher Diplomatic School and in 1974 transformed into the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR and after 1991 was renamed to Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Today it is one of the largest and the most prominent centers in the world for the training of professional diplomatic staff, specialists in international relations, international economy, international law, public administration and management with the knowledge of several foreign languages.

Anatoly Torkunov –  Rector of Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO), Chairman of the Organising Committee

Viktor Sadovnichiy – Rector of Moscow State University (MGU), co-chairman of the Organising Committee

Vladimir Filippov – Rector of People’s Friendship University of Russia (PFUR), Co-chairman of the Organising Committee

Alevtina Chernikova – Rector of National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), Co-chairman of the Organising Committee

Evgeny Bazhanov – Rector of The Diplomatic Academy, Co-chairman of the Organising Committee

Artem Malgin – Vice-rector for general affairs, Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO), Deputy Chairman of the Organising Committee

Sergey Shilov – Assistant to Rector of Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO), Executive Secretary of the Organising Committee

Nina Dymshitz – Head of Media Planning Department

Viktoria Kalashnikova – Communications Manager

Maria Slonskaya – Head of Department for Work with Participants

Artem Fomin – Coordinator for Work with Brazilian Participants

Anita Mujumdar – Coordinator for Work with Indian Participants

Viktoria Pavlenko – Coordinator for Work with Chinese Participants

Russian Federation’s Presidency in BRICS,
official web site:
en.brics2015.ru

BRICS is an informal group of states comprising the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa.

It was the Russian side that initiated the creation of BRICS.

On 20 September 2006, the first BRICS Ministerial Meeting was held at the proposal of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the margins of a UN General Assembly Session in New York. Foreign ministers of Russia, Brazil and China and the Indian Defence Minister took part in the meeting. They expressed their interest in expanding multilateral cooperation.

On 16 May 2008, Yekaterinburg hosted Meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers on the initiative of Russia. After the meeting, a Joint Communique was issued, reflecting common stances on topical global development issues.

Another important step was taken on 9 July 2008, when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao on the margins of the G8 Summit in Toyako, Japan, on the Russian initiative.

On the Russian initiative on 16 June 2009, Yekaterinburg hosted the first BRIC Summit. BRIC Leaders issued a joint statement after the Summit. The document set forth the goals of BRIC "to promote dialogue and cooperation among our countries in an incremental, proactive, pragmatic, open and transparent way. The dialogue and cooperation of the BRIC countries is conducive not only to serving common interests of emerging market economies and developing countries, but also to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity." The document outlined a common perception of ways to cope with the global financial and economic crisis.

The growing economic might of BRICS countries, their significance as one of the main driving forces of global economic development, their substantial population and abundant natural resources form the foundation of their influence on the international scene.

In 2013, BRICS accounted for about 27 percent of the global GDP (in terms of the purchasing power parity of their national currencies). The total BRICS population is 2.88 billion (42 percent of the entire global population), and the five countries cover 26 percent of the planet's land.

Relations between BRICS partners are built on the UN Charter, generally recognised principles and norms of international law and the following principles, which were agreed by member countries at their 2011 Summit: openness, pragmatism, solidarity, non-bloc nature and neutrality with regard to third parties.

BRICS work is based on action plans approved during annual summits since 2010.