By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says BRICS Political Party Plus Dialogue must not only set directions that would form the cornerstone of discussions at the upcoming BRICS Summit, but also put forward proposals to transform global institutions.
Ramaphosa was addressing the meeting of political parties taking place at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.
Among the guests at the summit in Joburg, are Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Sam Nujoma of Namibia and Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast.
The dialogue is a precursor gathering to the BRICS Summit due to take place in South Africa next month.
The dialogue is held under the theme: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive growth”, and has seen more than 50 political parties from the BRICS nations and various other countries meeting under one roof.
Ramaphosa said the theme of the dialogue reaffirmed principles of solidarity, human rights, anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism and African unity.
He said the focus of commissions, due to take place on Wednesday, must be on the opportunities that would promote trade and growth among BRICS nations and on the African continent.
Ramaphosa called for the dialogue to put forward proposals to reform global institutions, in particular the United Nations Security Council and the global developmental financial institutions, that he said, have previously under-prioritised developing nations.
“Political parties are the powerful agents of social change,” he said.
Ramaphosa also reaffirmed the country’s belief that conflicts were best resolved through dialogue and negotiations.
South Africa joined BRICS, whose other members are Brazil, Russia, India and China, in late 2010 and is due to host the bloc’s annual summit in Johannesburg next month.
It faces a dilemma should Russian President Vladimir Putin attend — it would be obliged to arrest the Russian leader on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against him for war crimes.
BRICS members have rejected proposals to host the summit virtually or move it to China.
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Video Courtesy of MYANC.