Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith attends the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue with Developing Countries (BRICS+). --Photo Ministry of Foreign Affairs

DPM attends BRICS Dialogue with developing countries, emphasises multilateralism 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on June 11 attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue with Developing Countries (BRICS+) in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and emphasised the importance of multilateralism and the critical role that BRICS plays in this regard and in global affairs.
The dialogue, which was part of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting hosted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, brought together foreign ministers from 10 BRICS member countries, and ministers and deputy foreign ministers from 12 guest countries.
The BRICS’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security”.
In his speech, Mr Saleumxay underscored the significant role that BRICS plays in global affairs, saying the bloc represents almost 50 percent of the global population and almost one third of the world’s GDP, while its members are among the fastest growing economies.
“In this context, we would like to see a greater role played by BRICS in advancing and safeguarding multilateralism in global development and security and in preventing unilateralism and double-standard conduct in international relations,” the Lao minister said.
Equitable global development requires sustainable peace and security, he added, saying that the current geopolitical landscape does not provide an enabling environment for development.
This was backed up by the United Nations’ Report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which speculated on the failure by the international community to meet the SDGs by 2030.
“This is why we need to work together towards peace, security and sustainable development and we believe in BRICS’s strength and resolve,” the top Lao diplomat said.
The foreign minister of Laos, which holds the ASEAN Chairmanship this year, said ASEAN upholds the principles of multilateralism, peace, security and equitable development.
As the chair of ASEAN for 2024, the minister said “The Lao PDR stands ready to work closely with BRICS and other countries to further enhance multilateralism and equitable global development.”
“I would like to reiterate that Laos is committed to supporting and cooperating with BRICS at all levels. Our productive discussions today will further enhance our cooperation towards concrete outcomes in the future.”
During the meeting, participants highly praised the strategic significance of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue with Developing Countries, noting that the BRICS+ model facilitates unity and cooperation among developing countries, enhancing the Global South’s influence and building a more just and reasonable international order, according to Xinhua.
They agreed to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, oppose unilateralism, insist on resolving conflicts and differences through dialogue and consultation, promote political solutions to international hotspots, and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, the Chinese news agency reported.
The meeting also called for reforms to the international financial system, enhanced cooperation in digital economy, infrastructure and other areas, safeguarding the stability of the global industrial supply chain, narrowing the development gap, and achieving shared progress.
The 12 guest countries comprised Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, Mauritania, Cuba, Venezuela and Bahrain.
On the sidelines of the meeting, DPM Saleumxay held working sessions with his counterparts from Russia, China, Cuba, Brazil and Belarus.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 14, 2024)