MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. The expanded BRICS association is a "ship" that India will steer on a steady and firm course as its captain next year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview published on the PIR Center website.
He noted that New Delhi has "traditionally shown great interest and devoted significant attention to working within the BRICS format."
"This has always been the case: India is a founding member of the grouping," Ryabkov said. "Now that BRICS has expanded, it is a ship that the Indian captain will, I am confident, steer next year on a steady, firm course toward further deepening cooperation," he added.
The deputy foreign minister recalled that Brazil’s term as BRICS chair is coming to an end and that Indian counterparts will soon "share their specific plans with other members of the grouping."
"But I am sure that, as has been the case in the past during India’s chairmanship of the association, they will add momentum and initiatives in each of these areas," Ryabkov said. "Moreover, they will do so thoughtfully, with their own national specifics, which we respect and strive to fully support," he added.
