Lukashenko arrives for BRICS Outreach/Plus format meeting in Kazan

The day before, Aleksandr Lukashenko held a number of bilateral talks with leaders of foreign countries (Venezuela, Laos and Ethiopia) on the sidelines of the summit and gave several interviews  (to BBC, VGTRK and the Chinese TV channel CGTN).

It is worth mentioning that the president's contacts on the first day of the summit were not limited to the above-mentioned countries. Most of the communication with foreign colleagues took place behind the scenes, including during the reception for the summit participants held later in the evening.

Photos from the reception show Aleksandr Lukashenko sitting at the table next to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov.

Another photo shows the president of Belarus talking with counterparts from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

All in all, high-ranking officials from more than four dozen states and international organizations gathered for the forum.

“BRICS Outreach” is a regional format that provides for collaborative interaction with neighbours of the member state presiding in the association. This format was launched by the South African presidency in 2013.

“BRICS Plus” is a more inclusive format that allows for participation of other countries in the work of the association. In 2017, China launched the “BRICS Plus” format by putting forward an initiative to form a “circle of friends” that would interact with BRICS on a permanent basis.

These formats are aimed at involving like-minded developing countries to the work of the association with a view to addressing common problems and tasks.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted during the reception, the expanded BRICS Outreach/Plus format had proven itself well and offered an opportunity for direct and open communication between the members of the association and its genuine friends. “Together we will discuss issues of global concern. These include sustainable development, poverty eradication, peaceful resolution of conflicts, the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime, adaptation to climate change, stability of supply chains, exchange of technologies and knowledge in the broadest meaning of the word,” Vladimir Putin said listing the agenda of the meeting.

He emphasized that these topics directly affect the countries participating in the forum. Accordingly, collective action should be taken.

Last year, Belarus submitted an application to join the BRICS family.