Parliament, Saturday, 3 June 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation congratulates the Department of International Relations for successfully hosting the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, which was held yesterday on 1 June 2023 in Cape Town. The meeting was aimed at fostering collaboration and to strengthen ties among the BRICS nations in preparation for the upcoming BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg in August 2023.
The meeting which was led by the Minister of International Relations and Foreign Affairs, Dr Naledi Pandor, as the Chairperson of BRICS Ministerial Meeting, provided a crucial platform for the BRICS Foreign Ministers to reflect on regional and global developments. The BRICS bloc comprises of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. South Africa assumed BRICS presidency on 1 January 2023.
The committee welcomed the commitments of the Ministers that were highlighted in a joint statement. The Ministers affirmed, among other things, their commitment to strengthen the framework of BRICS cooperation under the three pillars of political and security; economic and financial; cultural, and people-to-people cooperation - upholding the BRICS spirit featuring mutual respect, understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus.
The Ministers further expressed their full support to South Africa’s BRICS chairship in 2023 under the theme “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”. They expressed their commitment to working together to ensure the success of the XV BRICS Summit.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, said the committee also applauds the new member countries that joined the BRICS Bank, as announced by Dr Pandor that Egypt, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates are the new members.
Mr Mahumapelo further acknowledged the agenda as proposed by the meeting in preparation for the upcoming BRICS Summit. “We call upon the International Relations Minister, Dr Pandor and South Africa to remain steadfast and steam ahead to host the BRICS Summit as planned, in South Africa,” Mr Mahumapelo said.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION, MR SUPRA MAHUMAPELO.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Nolizwi Magwagwa (Ms)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 716 5824 (via WhatsApp)
E-mail: nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour