Russia Encourages Convergence, Stronger Business Ties of BRICS Economies

Russia favors cooperation with the BRICS in such fields like trade, economic and investment cooperation.

GOA (Sputnik) — Russia strives for rapprochement of the BRICS economies and stronger trade, economic and investment cooperation within the framework of the forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday.

"Russia will continue to promote rapprochement of economies of the five [member states], create prerequisites for the launch of new business projects and invites business community of all the BRICS countries to work on our [Russia’s] market, develop partnership with the Russian companies," Putin said during the BRICS leaders’ meeting with the members of the BRICS Business Council.

The BRICS leaders take into account an opinion of the business community on the development of prospective plans on trade, economic and investment cooperation within the framework of the five-member group, Putin added.

The Russian president stressed that Moscow would continue to strongly support the BRICS Business Council as an important mechanism for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation of the BRICS countries.

The eighth annual BRICS event is taking place this weekend in India’s Goa and is attended by all five leaders, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, who are set to discuss a plan for cooperation in the near future as well as a wide range of political, economic and security issues.