Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have become BRICS partner countries, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said at a joint meeting of APEC foreign and trade ministers, TASS reports.

 

“The BRICS Summit in Kazan demonstrated the desire of the global majority to establish a fair world order, reform global institutions and build equitable economic ties,” he said in a speech that was published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry. “A solid package of agreements was concluded in the areas of trade, investment, artificial intelligence, energy, climate and logistics. Our APEC colleagues – Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand – have become partners of the group.”

 

Following the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the list of partner countries had been agreed. Their names were not all provided at the time. According to the president, the countries will first be sent invitations, and if they answer positively, their names will be announced.

 

The BRICS group was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining it in 2011. On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates also became members.