AmirAbdollahian made the remarks addressing the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting on June 2, 2023, Cape Town, South Africa.
" I am very delighted today to attend the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in the beautiful city of Cape Town.I would like to express gratitude to the friendly Government of South Africa for the warm hospitality extended to me and the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I would also like to thank the BRICS countries for this initiative toinviteFriends of BRICSto this Meeting", he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister said that the “Friends of BRICS are genuinely Friends of Cooperation and Partnership”; and indeed they are “Friends ofMultilateralism”. The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the pioneers of multilateralism. Our bilateral political and economic relations with the BRICS countries remain at a very good level while our trade value exceeds 30 billion dollars.
The full text of Amirabdollahian's statement is as follows:
I am very delighted today to attend the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in the beautiful city of Cape Town.I would like to express gratitude to the friendly Government of South Africa for the warm hospitality extended to me and the delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I would also like to thank the BRICS countries for this initiative toinviteFriends of BRICSto this Meeting.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The “Friends of BRICS” are genuinely“Friends of Cooperation and Partnership”; and indeed they are “Friends ofMultilateralism”. The Islamic Republic of Iran is among the pioneers of multilateralism. Our bilateral political and economic relations with the BRICS countries remain at a very good level while our trade value exceeds 30 billion dollars. There are very important multilateral cooperation arrangements to which Iran and some of the BRICS countries are members. We will soon expand our relations with three BRICscountries; namely Russia, China and India within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of India and the Republic of South Africa are the active members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and are cooperating in various economic sectors. Moreover, the Islamic Republic of Iran, China, India, Brazil and South Africa are among like-minded and active members of the group of developing countries called G-77.
For the Islamic Republic of Iran, BRICS can be the next significant target ofour multilateralism policy. This is why we are among the first states that have officially declared interest to join BRICS and its frameworks of cooperation. The large number of countries that are now interested in BRICS membership is an indication that we have made the right choice.
The combined capabilities and its serious efforts to rectify some asymmetries in the international system and strengthen multilateralismhave secured an important position for BRICS in the global relations and interactions. Such a position would certainly be further enhanced if other regional like-minded powers join the Group. An extended BRICScan come up with successful patterns such as “Collective and Inclusive Governance”, “New South-South Cooperation” and “Coalition of Emerging Economies”.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, along with other like-minded and interested countries, can be a reliable partner for BRICS in future. Havinga rich experience of active participation in international bodies and initiatives; abundant energy resources; short and cost-effective transport and transit networks; educated and skillful human workforce; eye-catching scientific and technological achievements; and above all, strong dedication and determination for contribution into a fair worldorder, the Islamic Republic of Iran can become an important partner for BRICS.
Of course, the goals and objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran are so much aligned with those of BRICS that we have already started to explore ways and means of cooperation and partnership with BRICS. We will soon organize a conference in Tehran through coordination with the embassies of BRICS countries to elaborate onexisting potentials and capacities of cooperation between Iran and BRICS. I would like to take the opportunity to invite all the BRICS countries to participate in the Tehran conference.
Madam Chair, Distinguished Participants
Once again, I would like to express my pleasure for participating in this meeting. I wish you all the best and success.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian arrived in the South African port city of Cape Town on Jun 1, 2023, to attend a meeting of the BRICS group of emerging economies.
Upon arrival at the airport in southwest of South Africa on Thursday, the Iranian foreign minister was welcomed by the officials of the host country.
Amirabdollahian is visiting Cape Town at the invitation of his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor to participate in a ministerial meeting of the BRICS.
Amirabdollahian met and held talks with Pandor on the sidelines of BRICS meeting in the South African port city of Cape Town on Thursday evening.
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