Remarks by Director of the Department of Economic Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Dmitry Birichevskiy at the 3rd Russia-Africa conference of the Valdai Club and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Session 1: G20 and BRICS: Assessing Strategic Roles in an Evolving Global Order, 28 July 2025
28 July 2025 21:36
1266-28-07-2025
South Africa's Presidency in the G20 is of great importance for quite a number of reasons. It is the first time that an African country has assumed leadership of this key international economic forum. And this is exactly one of the manifestations of the emergence of a new world order.
In 2025 the G20 rounds off its first full cycle of presidencies, which offers a good opportunity to review our past efforts and discuss the goals ahead.
On top of that, several anniversary dates create an exceptional historical context for the G20 this year. Namely the 80th anniversary of our Victory in the World War II and the founding of the United Nations; as well as the 65th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on Decolonization.
South Africa is steadily setting the tone for G20 endeavors with a focus on urgent issues of economic growth, food security, artificial intelligence, debt burden, and critical minerals. We support Pretoria's priorities and strive to contribute to tangible practical results.
On July 24-25, the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting convened in Mpumalanga Province, opening a number of high-level G20 events this year. It provided for successful adoption of documents on sensitive matters for Africa, such as illicit financial flows and social protection. Now we embark on the final stretch towards the November G20 Summit.
Against the backdrop of rising geo-economic fragmentation, G20's activities attract increasing attention. The Forum adopted its present form in 2008 - at a challenging time for the world economy - and since then proved itself an effective "crisis manager" on numerous occasions. G20 has remained resilient and efficient even at the peak of Western anti-Russian hysteria in 2022-2023. Today it continues to develop very much-needed consensus solutions on pressing economic and global issues.
The successive chairmanships of BRICS countries in 2022-2025 made a significant input to the productive work of the G20. Thanks to the well-balanced and independent stance of recent Chairs (Indonesia, India, Brazil and now South Africa), we could advance a unifying agenda at the Forum and transform it into a major channel to enable equitable communication among the largest economies.
The cycle of the BRICS leaderships in the G20 coincided with the steady strengthening of its positions in economic affairs. Today, BRICS and G7' shares in the global GDP are measured as 40 and 29 percent respectively.
The mounting influence of BRICS asserts it as a center for growth, innovation and one of the main pillars of a new and more just world order. Its principles of consensus, equality, mutual consideration of each other's interests resonate with a growing number of countries in the Global South, which enhances the role of BRICS as a sort of "spokesperson" for the World Majority.
In the G20, increasing weight and consolidation of a new pole of power enabled to rectify the long-standing pro-Western bias, and to focus discussions on the needs of developing nations. Finally, what we have at the top of our agenda is the long overdue issues of how to make economic governance more democratic and eliminate the digital and technological divides between the Global North and South. Such problems as illegitimate sanctions and other methods of unfair competition alongside the failure of developed countries to deliver on their ODA commitments were accorded the attention they rightly deserved.
South African Presidency has predictably placed G20 emphasis on the African agenda - a step that we fully support. Amidst the alarming developments in the global economy, situation in African countries looks particularly precarious. They routinely have to deal with the aftermaths of colonialism, thriving neocolonial practices, and inequitable division of labor. Their takes at development and industrialization get hindered by proliferating protectionist barriers, unbearable borrowing costs, and draining of resources.
Together with like-minded partners, we take efforts to consolidate the achievements of the BRICS presidencies in the G20 and give a strong political impetus to overcoming the challenges faced by developing countries, especially in Africa. We suggest our colleagues consider providing a "permanent seat" for BRICS in the G20.
Africa will only benefit from boosting cooperation with BRICS as a conduit for the priorities of the Global South, including at major multilateral fora such as G20. BRICS membership now comprises South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia, who seek to promote both national objectives and pan-African agenda. Since 2025, Nigeria and Uganda have joined in as partner states. In addition, further enlargement of the New Development Bank through African shareholders seems rather promising.
The status of BRICS as a leading international format was vividly stressed at the Summits in Kazan in 2024 and in Rio de Janeiro this year. The key results of Russian and recent Brazilian chairmanships keep evolving. That includes initiatives for interbank cooperation and elaboration of independent settlement and insurance instruments. Also, broad support was given to our proposals on the new mechanisms of exchange trading, strengthening the resilience of supply chains and resistance to protectionism.
Both in Kazan and Rio de Janeiro, member states committed to building a more just, resilient, polycentric world order and putting an end to the Western dominance in the Bretton Woods institutions. We will continue to advance this common ground within the G20.
Russia is a responsible contributor to the development agenda, both bilaterally and at international venues. Our focus is on maximizing the potential of Russian-African partnership. Every year the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) serves as an acclaimed platform for promoting Africa's interests. And again we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa Paul Mashatile for his participation in the event this year.
SPIEF's distinguished stance is largely based on our competitive advantages in energy, digitalization and infrastructure, as well as extensive experience in terms of import substitution. We look forward to further fruitful cooperation and offer our African friends effective tools to enhance their economic sovereignty. In current difficult geopolitical situation sovereignty is the key to the true economic and political independence.
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