Saudi Arabia, Iran among Six Countries Joining BRICS
2023-08-25
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1Iran and Saudi Arabia are among six countries set to join the BRICS economic group next year.
2The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia are the others to become members in 2024.
3BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
4Brazil, Russia, India and China formed the group in 2009 to increase economic cooperation among growing economies.
5South Africa joined in 2010.
6The group has called for more representation of developing countries and those in the south in world affairs.
7The group announced the addition of new members Thursday at its meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.
8BRICS currently represents around 40 percent of the world's population and more than 25 percent of the world's economic output.
9That is set to increase with the new members, which include three of the world's biggest oil producers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran.
10BRICS nations have long called for reforms of organizations like the U.N. Security Council, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
11They say the current structures "reflect yesterday's world."
12South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the host of the BRICS meeting this year.
13He said the expansion is an "effort to build a world that is fair, a world that is just, a world that is also inclusive and prosperous."
14In a sign of BRICS' growing influence, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also attended Thursday's expansion announcement.
15He said that international organizations "must reform to reflect today's power and economic realities."
16China's President Xi Jinping called the expansion "historic."
17He added that the group wanted "unity and development."
18However, some observers have questioned whether the group will become anti-Western with the expansion.
19China's relationship with the United States is at a low point. Russia faces Western economic measures for its invasion of Ukraine.
20Mohammad Jamshidi is the top political aide of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi.
21He called the decision to add his country a "victory for Iran's foreign policy."
22China and Russia were supporting Iran's inclusion.
23However, Brazil, India and South Africa, which have strong ties with the U.S., only gave their approval more recently.
24UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the BRICS announcement.
25He said his nation would be joining an "important group" and would work with all nations and people around the world.
26Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said in a statement that his country would work to "raise the voice of the Global South."
27The expansion also helps Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country and one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent.
28Its government is working to reconnect with international partners and financial organizations after a violent two-year conflict in the country's Tigray area.
29South African officials say more than 40 countries have said they want to join BRICS.
30And 22 countries have officially asked to join the organization.
31I'm Andrew Smith.
1Iran and Saudi Arabia are among six countries set to join the BRICS economic group next year. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia are the others to become members in 2024. 2BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Brazil, Russia, India and China formed the group in 2009 to increase economic cooperation among growing economies. South Africa joined in 2010. 3The group has called for more representation of developing countries and those in the south in world affairs. The group announced the addition of new members Thursday at its meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. 4BRICS currently represents around 40 percent of the world's population and more than 25 percent of the world's economic output. That is set to increase with the new members, which include three of the world's biggest oil producers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran. 5Changing world 6BRICS nations have long called for reforms of organizations like the U.N. Security Council, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They say the current structures "reflect yesterday's world." 7South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the host of the BRICS meeting this year. He said the expansion is an "effort to build a world that is fair, a world that is just, a world that is also inclusive and prosperous." 8In a sign of BRICS' growing influence, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also attended Thursday's expansion announcement. He said that international organizations "must reform to reflect today's power and economic realities." 9China's President Xi Jinping called the expansion "historic." He added that the group wanted "unity and development." 10However, some observers have questioned whether the group will become anti-Western with the expansion. China's relationship with the United States is at a low point. Russia faces Western economic measures for its invasion of Ukraine. 11New members cheer the announcement 12Mohammad Jamshidi is the top political aide of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi. He called the decision to add his country a "victory for Iran's foreign policy." 13China and Russia were supporting Iran's inclusion. However, Brazil, India and South Africa, which have strong ties with the U.S., only gave their approval more recently. 14UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the BRICS announcement. He said his nation would be joining an "important group" and would work with all nations and people around the world. 15Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said in a statement that his country would work to "raise the voice of the Global South." 16The expansion also helps Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country and one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent. Its government is working to reconnect with international partners and financial organizations after a violent two-year conflict in the country's Tigray area. 17South African officials say more than 40 countries have said they want to join BRICS. And 22 countries have officially asked to join the organization. 18I'm Andrew Smith. 19Andrew Smith and Hai Do adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from The Associated Press and Reuters. 20____________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22reflect -v. to mirror or show an aspect of something 23prosperous -adj. wealthy or doing well economically