Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said on Friday that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen to develop future cooperation with the BRICS group to achieve collective prosperity.
The BRICS countries consist of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The Saudi foreign minister participated in the ministerial meeting of BRICS Friends in Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday under the theme “Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism.”
Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in his speech at the meeting that the Kingdom is keen to enhance its future cooperation with the BRICS countries by taking advantage of the capabilities and capabilities of both sides.
The foreign minister said that this aims to meet common interests and achieve prosperity for all.
Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia was the main trading partner of the BRICS group in the Middle East, saying that trade relations with the countries of the group witnessed strong growth.
“It reflects the growing and developing relations with the countries of the group,” he said.
The foreign minister said the total value of bilateral trade with BRICS countries increased from $81 billion in 2017 and $128 billion in 2021 to more than $160 billion last year.
Prince Faisal said that the Kingdom shares basic values with the BRICS countries, represented by the belief that relations between countries are based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, non-interference and respect for international law.
These principles also include multilateral frameworks and collective action as points of reference in addressing common challenges.
Prince Faisal said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the BRICS countries also believe in the importance of peace, security and stability to refocus efforts towards national development and common prosperity.
He said that the Kingdom remains committed to working with international partners to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
He added that Saudi Arabia is also intensifying global efforts to enhance food and energy security in the face of recurring crises and supply chain issues.
Prince Faisal said that the Kingdom was a leading country worldwide in humanitarian and development aid and was among the top 10 donors to low- and middle-income countries.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Rassi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Multilateral Affairs, and Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to South Africa Sultan Al-Luwayhan Al-Anqari.
This text is a translation of an article published on Arabnews.com
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