RIO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed today that Argentina has received China’s support to join the economic grouping of the world’s top five emerging economies known as BRICS.
The news was confirmed after a meeting between Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero and State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi during the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
Cafiero and Yi discussed key issues on the bilateral agenda to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership that binds the two countries, the Foreign Ministry said.
The foreign ministers agreed to give new impetus to high-level joint work based on the consensus reached during President Alberto Fernández’s visit to China last February, it said.
Officials also highlighted the “excellent state of bilateral relations” within the framework of the ongoing “Year of Friendship and Cooperation between Argentina and China,” inaugurated by the presidents to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
Wang Yi formally reaffirmed his country’s support for Argentina’s membership in the BRICS group in line with the agreements reached by the group’s leaders, highlighting in this regard President Fernández’s participation in the group’s leaders’ summit on June 24 and Cafiero’s participation in the foreign ministers’ meeting on May 19, it said.
The Argentine minister pointed out that in this mechanism, our country can help strengthen and reinforce the voice in defense of the interests of developing countries, according to the Foreign Ministry.
China is currently the second-largest trading partner and the second-largest destination country for Argentine exports. Ministers agreed that there is “great potential for development” in the financial and investment sectors.
Cafiero particularly appreciated China’s support for the Argentine position on the Malvinas issue through its interventions as a member of the Special Committee on Decolonization, especially the support expressed by its delegation at the recent meeting on June 23.
ARGENTINA, IRAN…WHO IS THE NEXT BRICS CANDIDATE?
The BRICS bloc of emerging economies, established in 2009, represents more than 40% of the world population and about 26% of the global economy
In the multipolar world that awaits us, BRICS with China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa are increasingly becoming the power center of the Global South as a complementary pole to the U.S.-led ‘Golden Billion’, the rich countries of the West, which however still cling convulsively to the old unipolar world order with the U.S. as the world empire.
Already Argentina and Iran have applied to the bloc to become part of BRICS and it will be interesting to see which country wants to join next.