"I will say without exaggeration that today BRICS acts as an "agent" of the interests of the entire non-Western world. The decision to expand the association, made in Johannesburg in August 2023 when our leaders agreed to accept new participants, was a truly breakthrough achievement. From January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia gained their full rights as the members of our association. These countries have significant economic potential, play a significant role not only in their region, but also in the international arena and, most importantly, share the basic values of the BRICS that unite us, including the spirit of solidarity, equality, mutual respect, openness and consensus..."