SAO PAULO, June 14 — Vietnam has been formally admitted as a "partner country" of the BRICS group of major emerging economies, Brazil's government said on Friday, as the bloc presses ahead with an expansion push.
It is the tenth nation to receive this status, which allows invited countries to participate in BRICS summits and other discussion sessions.
Vietnam had expressed earlier this year that it was ready to discuss a partnership with BRICS, whose original members were Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
"The government of Brazil welcomes the decision of the Vietnamese government," said the South American country, which holds the bloc's presidency in 2025.
"Vietnam stands out as a relevant actor in Asia. Its efforts in favour of South-South cooperation and sustainable development reinforce its convergence with the interests of the group," it added.
Founded in 2009 and soon expanded to include South Africa, the group has also recently added Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, making it a growing diplomatic counterweight to traditional Western powers.
Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan are its other partner countries.
— Reuters
