China support Iran s membership in the BRICS Plus

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson has said his country as the BRICS chair for this year, supports the membership expansion process and expanding the “BRICS Plus” cooperation.

 

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at his regular Press Conference on June 28, during which he said, "Since its launch, the BRICS mechanism has been closely linked to the future of emerging markets and developing countries. In a world facing drastic changes and the pandemic unseen in a century as well as international hotspot issues, BRICS countries have agreed on the importance to strengthen cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries, enhance the representation of the BRICS mechanism, raise BRICS’ voice on major international and regional issues to jointly meet challenges and safeguard the common interests and development space of emerging markets and developing countries."

"Since its launch, the BRICS mechanism has been closely linked to the future of emerging markets and developing countries. In a world facing drastic changes and the pandemic unseen in a century as well as international hotspot issues, BRICS countries have agreed on the importance to strengthen cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries, enhance the representation of the BRICS mechanism, raise BRICS’ voice on major international and regional issues to jointly meet challenges and safeguard the common interests and development space of emerging markets and developing countries," Zhao Lijian added.

Iran has submitted an application to become a member of the group of emerging economies known as BRICS, an Iranian official said on Monday.

Iran’s membership in BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, “would result in added values for both sides,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said separately that Argentina had also applied to join the group. Argentinian officials could not be reached for immediate comment.

Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez, currently in Europe, has in recent days reiterated his desire for Argentina to join BRICS, Al Jazeera reported.

“While the White House was thinking about what else to turn off in the world, ban or spoil, Argentina and Iran applied to join the BRICS,” Zakharova wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia has long been pushing to forge closer ties with Asia, South America and the Middle East, but it has intensified its efforts recently to weather sanctions imposed by Europe, the United States and other countries over its military operation in Ukraine.

The 14th BRICS Summit was held on Friday through video-conference due to the coronavirus condition under the slogan "Strengthening High-Quality BRICS Partnership, Starting a New Era for Global Development".