As the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) opened its June 5-8 event, it has become clear that an important agenda item on the sidelines is going to be the BRICS. For example, there will be a number of BRICS meetings on the sidelines of SPIEF on June 6 (including a BRICS Transport Ministers meeting and a Roundtable on the International North-South Transport Corridor, INSTC).
In addition, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters June 4 that “On June 6, there will be talks with Bolivian President [Luis Arce]; this will be the first meeting of our President with Luis Arce,” although they previously “had contacts over the phone.” According to Ushakov, “the sides will discuss various issues of further development of bilateral cooperation in all areas, first of all the economy,” and also “discuss foreign policy.” He added that “the sides will also discuss Bolivia’s proposal to consider the country’s accession to BRICS, which has a special significance in view of Russia’s chairmanship.” Nuclear energy cooperation will also be on the agenda.
Also on June 6, Putin will meet with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik.
Ushakov continued: “A meeting with New Development Bank [BRICS bank] President Dilma Rousseff is planned for [June] 6 at the Konstantinovsky Palace. The sides will discuss the issues of the bank’s further strategy, its participation in the financing of various projects, including on the territory of Russia. We have, diplomatically speaking, questions about the activities of this bank, in the creation of which we were directly involved, and these issues will naturally be discussed with the New Development Bank president, including in view of the fact that next year, in July, the rotating presidency in this bank will go to Russia.”
