BRIC nations to intensify co-operation; plan meeting in Moscow next year

Mumbai: Foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) will meet in Moscow in spring 2008 to discuss issues of mutual interest in the international arena as also those relating to trade, development and financial system, the Interfax news agency quoted the Russian foreign ministry as saying.

"The next ministerial meeting will be held in Moscow in spring 2008 at the invitation of the Russian side," a statement issued by the ministry said.

The BRIC countries will gradually intensify co-operation, beginning with consultations at the ambassadorial level, and then move on to political level.

Consultations will focus on issues of mutual interest in the international arena as also those relating to trade, development and financial system.

The decision was taken during a ministerial meeting of the four countries on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly (UNGA) session.

External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is leading the Indian delegation at the UNGA, had a series of meetings with his Brazilian, Russian and Chinese counterparts on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov attended a ministerial meeting of the BRIC group yesterday.

"It was agreed to continue four-way contacts at various levels, including representatives of the four countries at international organisations, expanding the agenda of the debates and seeking ways to coordinate and interact on specific issues," the Russian foreign ministry statement said.

Mukerjee also held in-depth discussions on issues of mutual interest with foreign ministers of Afghan, Algeria, Singapore, Cuba, Slovakia, the UAE, Slovenia and Canada.