BRICS nations are not competing with any country or grouping and favour a more equitable and sustainable global partnership, a South African Minister has said ahead of a Summit of the five key nations in Durban.
"In fact (BRICS countries) wish to transform the former model of co-operation based on a zero-sum relationship in favour of more equitable and sustainable global partnerships," Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said.
"This forum seeks to collectively offer viable and timely advice and recommendations to government leaders of BRICS to support policy making, the adoption of best practices, exploration of new frameworks, and assistance in implementation of existing and new schemes and programmes," the minister recently wrote in the daily The New Age.
Nkoana-Mashabane said that there were a number of common challenges facing the BRICS partners and the forum serves as our "alter ego" which will analyse our agendas and critique it, often in a robust manner.
She said that the common history that distinguishes the BRICS countries from the traditional powers is a history of struggle against colonialism and underdevelopment.
"Secondly, the BRICS countries have common challenges as developing nations. (In South Africa), we speak of the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment. We have set in motion processes to grow our economy and expand our infrastructure, among others. Other BRICS member states are dealing with similar challenges that differ in scale and degree," she said.
"Thirdly, we are driven by shared interests, not only in the definition of our respective national interests as individual BRICS countries. We also share a common vision of the world of the future.
"Fourthly, each of the BRICS countries works for a true partnership with Africa and this resonates well with us because Africa is the centrepiece of our foreign policy," she said.
The Minister said that the prevailing global economic system was regulated by institutions conceived in circumstances when the global economy was characterised by very different challenges and opportunities.
"BRICS offers an historic opportunity to explore new models and approaches towards more equitable development and inclusive global growth by emphasising complementarities and building on our respective economic strengths," she said.
The theme for the 5th summit of BRICS to be held in Durban next week is 'BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation'.
