Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is set to participate in the BRICS Plus dialogue session on August 24 via video call. This engagement comes as President Tokayev assumes the role of Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and underscores the growing importance of Kazakhstan's diplomatic endeavors on the global stage.
Kazakhstan's presence at the meeting, hosted as part of the 15th BRICS Summit, is a result of an invitation extended by the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. The ongoing summit, which convened in Johannesburg on August 22, is a gathering of the heads of state or government of the five BRICS member states.
The 2023 BRICS summit serves as a platform for member countries to engage in substantive discussions concerning matters of global significance. Amid the spotlight on this event, questions arise about the nature of the BRICS alliance, its existing members, and the growing interest from nations worldwide to join this influential bloc.
The BRICS alliance is a strategic cooperation forum comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Collectively, these nations account for more than 40% of the global population and approximately a quarter of the world's economy. While their focus extends beyond geopolitics, encompassing economic cooperation and multilateral trade enhancement, the alliance's role as a driver of global development cannot be understated.
A key feature of the BRICS mechanism is its consensus-based decision-making approach. This methodology ensures that each member's voice contributes to shaping the direction of the group. Additionally, all BRICS nations are part of the Group of 20 (G20), which brings together the major economies of the world to address global economic challenges.
In the last twenty years, there has been a significant change in the global economic and geopolitical landscape due to the emergence of the BRICS nations, which counterbalance the traditional dominance of the G7. The rise of BRICS nations calls for more inclusive global governance, challenging the Western-led G7.
The G7, including the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan, used to have a strong influence on global economic decisions. However, the BRICS nations' rapid economic growth shifted the balance. China's remarkable economic rise has reshaped global trade, investment, and innovation. India, with its large population and tech industry, could become the second economic superpower. Russia, Brazil, and South Africa fell short of expectations in terms of global GDP share.
Despite the challenges, the combined GDP of the five BRICS nations surpassed the G7's in 2020, measured by purchasing power parity. The IMF predicts they will represent 32.1% of global GDP this year, up from 16.9% in 1995, exceeding the G7's 29.9% share.
Kazakhstan's aspiration to join BRICS aligns with the growing interest expressed by over 40 countries keen to participate in this influential forum. Alongside Kazakhstan, countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Algeria, Bolivia, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, and Gabon have also demonstrated a keen interest in becoming part of the alliance.
Kazakhstan's participation in this high-profile event as the Chair of the SCO further underscores its commitment to fostering collaborative relationships and driving positive change on the international stage.
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