BRICS SUMMIT 17 NOVEMBER 2020
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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s welcoming remarks to participants in the 5th BRICS Young Diplomats Forum

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s welcoming remarks to participants in the 5th BRICS Young Diplomats Forum

Friends,

I extend wholehearted greetings to the 5th BRICS Young Diplomats Forum participants.

The initiative to hold such forums came from the Russian Foreign Ministry Council of Young Diplomats in 2015, during Russia’s previous BRICS chairmanship cycle. Despite being a fairly new event, this format of interaction between young diplomats from our five countries has shown a good example of building horizontal ties among the foreign affairs agencies of the BRICS states.

It is symbolic that this year’s venue is the capital of Tatarstan, Kazan, one of the oldest cities in Russia, where representatives of different ethnic and religious backgrounds live together in harmony. This is consonant with the BRICS concept about uniting various geographic regions and various cultural and civilizational landscapes. It is in diversity that the strength of our unity shows.

Deepening the strategic partnership in BRICS is one of Russia's foreign policy priorities. Over the past decade, the group has proved to be a relevant and well-respected format of cooperation. The BRICS countries maintain solidarity in strengthening collective principles in global affairs; they advocate respect for the sovereignty and sovereign equality of all states, and are deeply convinced that any conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means only. We defend the principles of a more just world order based on respect for the norms and principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

I hope that your forum will contribute to the development of both the political and youth agendas of our association, and will help to further strengthen our strategic partnership, trust and friendship between our states and peoples.

I wish all the best and good luck to all forum participants. May you stay in good health and have fulfilling discussions on matters that are of relevance for young diplomats from the BRICS countries. Thank you.