Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov

Moscow, June 4 (RHC)-- Russia’s envoy to the BRICS says the bloc of emerging economies is after enhancing its influence on the global stage.

The group’s agenda features endeavor towards “enhancing [the level of its] influence on global decision-making [processes],” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Moscow on Monday, addressing the bloc’s Women's Entrepreneurship Forum.

The diplomat hailed that “[positive] involvement in the field of business and other areas of interaction and cooperation has turned BRICS into a powerful institution on the international stage.”  “It is very important that the interests of all members be boosted [simultaneously],” he noted.

A coalition initially made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS expanded earlier this year to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. As many as 44 other nations have also reportedly expressed interest in joining the bloc.

The Russian diplomat noted how addition of the new members this year had “increased the group’s potentials so it can pursue its goals on the global scale.”  He likewise acknowledged that there was a growing interest among various countries to accede to the bloc.

Still addressing the forum that was also joined by Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali, Ryabkov said cooperation among the bloc’s members did not simply concern the economic area.  “These instances of cooperation also concern the member countries’ other aspects,” including culture and civilization, he said, citing Iran and Egypt’s rich cultural and civilizational background.