The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, participated in the “BRICS Dialogue with Developing Countries” on June 11, 2024. This event took place during the “BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations Meeting” in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
The dialogue brought together 22 ministers and representatives from BRICS member countries and developing nations. The discussion centered on the role of developing countries within BRICS, with a focus on strengthening multilateralism, promoting fair international economic systems, supporting the development of developing countries, and enhancing global security and sustainable development.
This marked Thailand’s 5th participation in a high-level BRICS meeting. The Minister expressed Thailand’s interest in becoming a full member of BRICS, emphasizing Thailand’s potential to bridge different groups of countries and enhance the inclusiveness and impact of BRICS in promoting the interests of developing countries. Concrete proposals were also made to enhance cooperation between BRICS and developing countries, particularly in areas such as energy and food security, local currency usage, and international development cooperation.
Additionally, the Minister held bilateral meetings with counterparts from original BRICS members (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) as well as new BRICS members like the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and the invited member, Saudi Arabia. Discussions revolved around bilateral relations and Thailand’s intention to join BRICS as a full member, with positive reception and support from all BRICS member states. The Minister also presented a letter expressing Thailand’s intention to join BRICS as a full member to H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, the current BRICS Chair from Russia.