Lukashenko to attend BRICS summit in "outreach/plus" format

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Kazan for the BRICS summit in the "outreach/plus" format, BELTA reports.

The day before, Alexander Lukashenko held a number of bilateral talks with leaders of foreign countries (Venezuela, Laos and Ethiopia) and gave several interviews to the media (BBC, VGTRK and the Chinese TV channel CGTN).

It is worth noting that the President's range of international contacts on the first day of work at the summit was not limited to the above-mentioned countries. Most of the communication with foreign colleagues took place behind the scenes, "on the move", including during the gala reception for summit participants that evening.

In total, representatives of the leadership of more than four dozen states and international organizations gathered for the forum.

"BRICS Outreach" is a regional format that involves the involvement of BRICS regional neighbors of the country chairing the association in BRICS activities. This format was launched by the South African presidency in 2013.

"BRICS Plus" is a more global format that allows for the involvement of other countries in the work. In 2017, China laid the foundation for the "BRICS Plus" format by putting forward an initiative to form a "circle of friends" that would interact with BRICS on an ongoing basis.

These formats are aimed at involving like-minded developing countries in the work of the association in order to address common problems and tasks on the agenda.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the day before during the ceremonial reception, the expanded "BRICS Outreach/Plus" format has proven itself well and provides an opportunity for direct and open communication between the association's members and friendly countries. "Together we will consider the issues of concern to the global community. They include sustainable development, eradication of poverty, peaceful resolution of conflicts, the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime. Adaptation to climate change, stability of supply chains, exchange of technologies and knowledge in the broadest sense of the word," Vladimir Putin listed the agenda of the meeting.

He emphasized that these topics directly affect the lives of citizens of the countries participating in the forum. Accordingly, collectiveactionisalsonecessaryintheseareas.

Last year, Belarus applied to join the BRICS family.