BRICS leaders to discuss expansion prospects at summit on July 27 - Russian president’s aide

MOSCOW, July 24. /TASS/. BRICS leaders plan to discuss expansion prospects of the informal association but no specific decision will be taken on this issue so far, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said on Tuesday. "Prospects of further cooperation will be discussed. I do not rule out that the issue will be discussed in particular about further work of BRICS relatively to other countries, which want to closely cooperate with the association and even discuss an opportunity of being connected to it," Ushakov said. "BRICS leaders will exchange their views concerning the processes of expansion and engagement of new participants," he added. No decisions are planned to be taken on this matter, the official said. BRICS leaders will also hold a separate session with representatives of African states and current heads of industrial and regional associations, including the Group of 20, within the framework of the summit meeting in Johannesburg, Ushakov added. "The summit program traditionally provides for a separate meeting of BRICS leaders with invited heads of certain countries," the aide said. "Heads of African states… and heads of certain countries presiding in major industrial and regional associations are invited this time," Ushakov said. He added that this refers to Argentina (currently presiding in G20), Turkey (chairing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), and Jamaica (presiding in the Caribbean community). Read more