MOSCOW, July 7. /TASS/. Vladimir Putin addresses the BRICS summit, support for dialogue with Russia in the EU is increasing, and Elon Musk launches a new party. These stories topped Monday's headlines across Russia.
Not only do BRICS countries account for one-third of land on the globe and almost half of the world’s population, but also for 40% of the global economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said via video link at the group’s 17th summit being held in Brazil. The Russian leader urged to continue expanding the use of national currencies in mutual transactions, noting that their use in trade between BRICS countries is steadily growing. Additionally, he proposed to increase by several fold the volume of reciprocal investment, including via the New Development Bank.
Other Latin American countries are showing growing interest in the BRICS New Development Bank, Alexander Shchetinin, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Latin American department, told Izvestia. Earlier, Colombia joined the financial structure.
"No doubt, there is obvious interest in the New Development Bank as a financial institution. All decisions on inviting this or that country to join are being made at relevant levels: member states, the bank’s founders, the bank’s members. And this is how they consider individual invitations or interest displayed by various countries. Undoubtedly, there is more active participation by Latin American countries in the institutions being established by BRICS, including the financial and economic ones. This is a positive development due to the countries of the Global South realizing the new position of this group, representing the global majority which reflects the contemporary trends and reality unfolding in the modern world," the diplomat told Izvestia.
