SA Parliament has commended the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) for successfully hosting the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs last week.
The trailblazing gathering took place on 1 and 2 June 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.
According to the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, the meeting was aimed at fostering collaboration and strengthening ties among the BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] nations.
The gathering served as a precursor of the BRICS Summit to be held in August, with South Africa set to host fellow member states.
Led by Minister, Dr. Naledi Pandor, as the chairperson of the BRICS Ministerial Meeting, the gathering provided a crucial platform for the BRICS Foreign Ministers to reflect on regional and global developments.
“The [parliamentary] committee welcomed the commitments of the Ministers that were highlighted in a joint statement,” the committee said.
In the joint statement, the Foreign Ministers affirmed their commitment to strengthen the framework of BRICS cooperation under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial, as well as cultural and people-to-people cooperation.
The diplomats also upheld the BRICS spirit featuring mutual respect, understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus.
Committee chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo, said the committee also applauds the new member countries that joined the BRICS Bank. This comes after Pandor announced that Egypt, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates are now members.
Mahumapelo further acknowledged the agenda, as proposed by the meeting in preparation for the upcoming BRICS Summit.
“We call upon the International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr. Pandor and South Africa to remain steadfast and steam ahead to host the BRICS Summit as planned in South Africa,” Mahumapelo said.
