Participants attend the narrow format meeting of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23, 2024. (Photo by president.ir)
Kazan, October 26 (RHC)-- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has underscored the growing power of the BRICS group of countries that has overshadowed that of the West, at the conclusion of the bloc's 16th annual summit.
"Main takeaway: the sun is rising from the East, and truly setting in the West," he said in an X post on Thursday, a day after BRICS leaders issued a joint declaration at the end of their meeting in Russia's Kazan.
Araqchi, who accompanied President Masoud Pezeshkian on his trip to Russia to attend the BRICS summit, also hailed the Iranian chief executive's "fruitful engagement" with world leaders on the sidelines of the event.
The BRICS group of fast-developing economies initially consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This year, it was expanded to include Iran, Egypt, the UAE and Ethiopia as new members.
The group promotes a multipolar world order and is often seen as an alternative to Western economic and political hegemony. It comprises almost 46 percent of the global population, 36 percent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 25 percent of the global trade measured in terms of exports.
Also speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the top Iranian diplomat said BRICS is turning into a new power bloc in the international arena, consisting of the countries that oppose unilateralism and seek a fairer world system free of the monopoly of Western institutions.
"With the help of non-Western states and those of the so-called Global South, the BRICS countries are seeking to have their own voice in international relations and systems, and get rid of sheer unilateralism pursued by the US and other Western countries," he added.
In their declaration at the end of the Kazan summit, the BRICS leaders expressed deep concern over the harmful impact of illegal, unilateral sanctions on the global economy, noting that they "negatively affect" economic growth, energy, food security, and exacerbate poverty and environmental challenges.
The BRICS summit began on Tuesday. The main BRICS meeting took place on Wednesday while outreach/BRICS Plus sessions took place on Thursday, the final day of the event.
