Question NW223 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Reply:

a) South Africa advances its national priorities and national interests through mutually beneficial BRICS cooperation, shaping a multipolar world and driving global governance reform to be more fair, just, inclusive and representative. The Russian Federation chairs BRICS in 2024 under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security”. The Chair's priorities for 2024 include 1) Strengthening the BRICS Strategic Partnership based on continuity and consensus, 2) Enhancing the BRICS role in addressing major issues on the global agenda, 3) Forging partnerships with emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs), 4) Contributing to the social, economic, investment, innovative and human development of BRICS countries, and 5) Enriching people-to-people cooperation and raising mutual cultural awareness. The Chair's theme and priorities build on existing BRICS cooperation and continue the implementation of BRICS strategies, action plans and cooperation frameworks as well as BRICS Summit and Ministerial declarations. Implementation of the outcomes of the Johannesburg II Declaration continues in 2024 including the further development of a BRICS Partner Country model and the consideration of the use of local currencies, payment systems and platforms. A particular focus for 2024 is the full incorporation of new members into all BRICS cooperation tracks, including in BRICS structures such as the BRICS Business Council, BRICS Think Tanks Council, BRICS Women's Business Alliance and the newly established BRICS Youth Council.

(b) The strategic leadership of the rotational Chair of BRICS is implemented in close consultation and consensus with other BRICS members. South Africa continues to play a significant role in the advancement of mutually beneficial BRICS cooperation outside of its tenure as Chair of BRICS during 2023. South Africa will closely support the Chair in the implementation of the outcomes of the XV BRICS Summit, including the further development of a Partner Country model and the consideration of the issue of local currencies, payment instruments and platforms before the XVI BRICS Summit to be hosted by the Russian Federation in October 2024. South Africa will also work with all BRICS members to maintain the momentum on recent BRICS initiatives including meetings of BRICS Ministers responsible for Women and BRICS experts on persons with disabilities, the operationalisation of the BRICS Youth Council, BRICS Digital Economy Working Group, BRICS Working Group on Nuclear Medicine and BRICS Think Tank Network for Finance, the establishment of the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competences with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the development of a BRICS Sport Cooperation Framework and workshops on the mutual recognition of BRICS qualifications to name but a few. South Africa also looks forward to engaging with new BRICS members on opportunities for mutually beneficial BRICS cooperation as result of the historic decision on membership expansion taken during the XV BRICS Summit.