Enlargement of BRICS to Contribute to Fairer Global Governance - South African President

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The recent enlargement of BRICS will help other countries seek a fairer global governance system based on rules that apply equally to all states, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.

"Through an expanded BRICS, we will be able to better align the voices of those countries that seek a fairer global governance, financial, investment and trading system based on clear rules that apply equally to all countries," Ramaphosa said on Sunday in his address to the nation on the outcomes of the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

The president also said that the enlargement of the bloc would allow South Africa to export more products to global markets, which would help create new jobs in the country. He added that the Johannesburg summit had shown South Africa's growing role in the international arena.

"The success of the Summit is a credit to our country and its people. It is another demonstration of our ability to host major international gatherings that have a significant impact on the conduct of international affairs far beyond our borders. Overall, many people have said that this was a most successful BRICS summit," Ramaphosa said.

BRICS currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In August, the 15th top-level BRICS summit in Johannesburg extended invitations to Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to join the bloc. Their full membership will start on January 1, 2024.