Press release on the results of the 10th BRICS summit – 2018

The 10th BRICS summit was held in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, on July 25-27, 2018. Presidents V.Putin, M.Temer, Xi Jinping, C.Ramaphosa, and Prime Minister N.Modi endorsed the Johannesburg Declaration that is aimed against economic sanctions and the use of force in violation of the UN Charter. It is also designed to prevent an arms race in outer space, support the Astana process on a settlement in Syria and preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The declaration includes the Russian initiatives on drafting an agreement on IT and communication technology, forming a platform for energy research and establishing a women’s business alliance. It deals with BRICS cooperation in culture, sport and cinematography.

The summit sent a powerful signal in favour of preserving the WTO, against protectionism and changing the rules of world trade. Inter-governmental memorandums were signed on cooperation in regional aviation and environmental protection, and an agreement on establishing a new Development Bank office in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

All five leaders agreed to a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin that co-operation should be extended at people-to-people level to promote co-operation and make the community more inclusive.

President V.Putin attended a meeting of BRICS leaders with delegation heads fr om invited African states and chairs of international associations. Those invited included the leaders of African countries, namely, Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Gabon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, the Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The meeting was also attended by the heads of Argentina (the current chair of the G20), Turkey (the current chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) and Jamaica (the current chair of the Caribbean Community).

At the meeting President V.Putin said that Group of Five and African countries have greatly strengthened and expanded their cooperation in the economy, politics and the humanitarian sphere. Africa is one of the world’s most rapidly developing regions. According to the UN, the population of this continent will reach 2.5 billion by 2050. In 2015, the BRICS summit in Russia adopted the large-scale BRICS Strategy for Economic Partnership with Africa.

Russia plans to increase its assistance to the development of the national energy sector in African states, Vladimir V.Putin noted. We are implementing promising oil and gas projects with a number of countries, such as Angola, Mozambique, and Gabon. In the nuclear power industry, where Russia is a technological leader, we offer our African partners the creation of an entire industry on a turnkey basis. Agreements on cooperation in the field of atoms for peace have been signed with a number of countries in the region, while in some of them the work has acquired a practical dimension. All these projects will be of strategic importance for Africa, wh ere, according to different estimates, as many as 600 million people still live without electricity.

A considerable part of Russian initiatives provides for domesticating industrial businesses in Africa, including, among other things, the construction of plants manufacturing component parts and assembly works. The implementation of these joint projects will serve to strengthen the industrial potential, support local businesses and create new and well-paid jobs. On the whole, this will lead to an improvement in living standards and a solution of social problems in African states.

Russia has a vested interest in intensifying interaction with African regional and sub-regional organizations, primarily with the African Union as well as the Southern African Development Community.

The amount of Russian assistance to Africa exceeded one billion dollars in 2017. Russian contributions to the World Food Programme fund are constantly growing. Russia is the fifth biggest contributor to the UNIDO Industrial Development Fund.

Considerable funds are remitted to the World Health Organization for the fight against non-infectious diseases on the African continent. Our work to combat the Ebola virus has proved highly efficient.

Russia has for years trained national professional personnel for countries of the continent. Currently, thousands of Africans are being educated in Russia. In conclusion, President informed that we were studying the idea of holding a Russia-Africa summit with the participation of heads of African states. This could be preceded by relevant meetings of prominent business people, experts, and public figures.

Russian Foreign Ministry's Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova took part in the 1st Meeting of the Spokespersons of the BRICS Member States' MFAs held in Johannesburg, South Africa. She spoke about enhancing cooperation and coordinating efforts in promoting positive image & agenda of BRICS, made an experience-sharing presentation "Countering #FakeNews: Experience of the Russian MFA", which was very positively received by other participants including the South African hosts.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation
in the Republic of Botswana