Argentine Ambassador to China: Thank you to China and all BRICS countries for their support and invitation to join the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism
"We are very pleased with the acceleration of the BRICS expansion process and I would like to thank China and all BRICS countries for their support," Argentine Ambassador to China Niu Wangdao told Global Times on the 24th. On the same day, the 15th BRICS Leaders Meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa announced that the BRICS countries had decided to invite Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to become official members of the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism from January 1, 2024.
Niu Wangdao, who has heard the above news, stated that before announcing the expansion, the BRICS countries accounted for nearly one-third of the world's total economy, nearly half of the world's population, and 30% of the world's territory. In recent years, their contribution to global economic growth has exceeded 50%. "With the accession of countries such as Argentina and the willingness of more than 40 countries to join, the expanded BRICS will become one of the most important cooperation mechanisms in the world."
Previously, the Argentine government had repeatedly expressed its desire to become a member of the BRICS family. According to a previous announcement from the Argentine Embassy in China, in September 2022, Argentine President Fernandez officially submitted his country's application to join the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism.
"We have enormous potential because we have strategic mineral and energy reserves, we are a large food producing country, our technological capabilities are constantly improving, and we have the majority of the world's population," Niu Wangdao told Global Times reporters. "The strengthening of the BRICS countries is crucial for the development of the 'global south'. I believe this cooperation mechanism represents countries with similar needs, which is why all parties can work together to promote our common development.".
Niu Wangdao believes that "the expansion of the BRICS cooperation mechanism is the key to establishing a more harmonious global order: replacing confrontation with cooperation; adhering to the principle of mutual respect, opposing unilateralism and interventionism; economic integration rather than outdated sanctions; and replacing technology blockade with technology transfer."