The BRICs and the Rearrangement of the World
08 June 2008
Article by the Brazilian foreign minister, Celso Amorim, published in the Folha de São Paulo on 8 June 2008.
The BRICs are in vogue. The acronym, created by financial analysts, was initially associated with the impact this group — consisting of Brazil, Russia, India and China — has had, and will increasingly continue to have, on the global economy. With almost one half of the world’s population, 20 percent of the world's land area, abundant natural resources and diversified economies growing at sustainable rates, it was only natural that the group, which today accounts for 15 percent of the world's GDP, would be deemed to have unquestionable economic clout.
Given the slowdown in the US economy and the uncertainties that have began to affect trends in international trade and finance, the BRICs have contributed to keeping the world economy on track. This is a clear example of how countries that are 'not rich' are capable of mitigating the possible effects of a crisis that has arisen primarily in the developed world.
Now the four BRIC countries have decided to expand their agenda of joint initiatives. They are seeking to strengthen their political role as a group that assists in balancing and democratizing the international system at the beginning of the 21st century.
At the invitation of the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov I participated in the first BRIC Ministerial Meeting, along with my colleagues Pranab Mukherjee (of India) and Yang Jiechi (of China), in Yekaterinburg on May 16. The meeting itself says more about multipolarity than any words could.
The BRICs are an example of how countries with different cultures are able to unite to work on common initiatives, pursuing peace, multilateralism and respect for international law.
The convergence that we have been able to foster, notwithstanding the plurality among our points of view, is likely to strengthen the actions we take in different multilateral forums and levels.
The United Nations offers the only political arena that incorporates all the different systems of values. There is a consensus among the BRICs that it is essential to achieve a successful conclusion to the comprehensive process of UN reforms, so as to keep the UN at the centre of the world system we desire. Postponing such reforms indefinitely, including those of the Security Council, will exacerbate the risk that its authority will suffer erosion.
At the WTO, the manner in which Brazil, China and India have already been collaborating within the G-20 framework demonstrates the potential for that kind of cooperation. We welcome the future entry of Russia into the WTO as a positive development in the evolution of the multilateral trading system.
We should also continue to advocate reform and modernization of the international financial institutions. This subject will be addressed in November, at the Meeting of the Economy Ministers of the BRICs, proposed by Brazil.
We also recall the dialogue between the G-8 and the G-5, in which the BRICs are present on both sides of the table. At a time when there is interest in economic stability and expanding trading relations, without unwarranted barriers against trade or investments, the BRICs share the desire to see their views reflected in the discussions of the major topics on the international agenda, such as combating hunger and poverty, energy security, climate change, and promoting development.
Our countries' perspectives are essential to achieving progress in discussions of some global issues and world governance itself. Access to natural resources, with all its economic and geostrategic implications, seems to have become increasingly vital on the international agenda.
Of the four BRICs, Brazil and Russia are among the world’s largest suppliers of natural resources, especially energy resources, while China and India are among the largest consumers. The same could be said, mutatis mutandis, on the issue of food security. Discussions between the four in areas such as these can be just as significant, or even more so, than such discussions within the G-7 framework.
There is a vast potential for cooperation in advanced technology fields. In terms of trade, Russia, China and India already import almost US$ 16 billion annually in Brazilian products.
The fact that we have created new associations does not reduce the importance of other alliances that Brazil has built under President Lula. Such is the case with the India, Brazil and South Africa Cooperation Forum, as well as the summit meetings between South America and the Arab countries and South America and the African countries. Most importantly, it is especially true for the integration process in our region, which gained a new momentum with the recent signing of the Unasul treaty.
The BRICs have a clear goal within the context of such coalitions variable geometry. Without impulsiveness or defiance, the time has come to begin rearranging the world towards meeting the expectations and needs of the overwhelming majority of humanity.
The BRICs are in vogue. The acronym, created by financial analysts, was initially associated with the impact this group — consisting of Brazil, Russia, India and China — has had, and will increasingly continue to have, on the global economy. With almost one half of the world’s population, 20 percent of the world's land area, abundant natural resources and diversified economies growing at sustainable rates, it was only natural that the group, which today accounts for 15 percent of the world's GDP, would be deemed to have unquestionable economic clout.
Given the slowdown in the US economy and the uncertainties that have began to affect trends in international trade and finance, the BRICs have contributed to keeping the world economy on track. This is a clear example of how countries that are 'not rich' are capable of mitigating the possible effects of a crisis that has arisen primarily in the developed world.
Now the four BRIC countries have decided to expand their agenda of joint initiatives. They are seeking to strengthen their political role as a group that assists in balancing and democratizing the international system at the beginning of the 21st century.
At the invitation of the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov I participated in the first BRIC Ministerial Meeting, along with my colleagues Pranab Mukherjee (of India) and Yang Jiechi (of China), in Yekaterinburg on May 16. The meeting itself says more about multipolarity than any words could.
The BRICs are an example of how countries with different cultures are able to unite to work on common initiatives, pursuing peace, multilateralism and respect for international law.
The convergence that we have been able to foster, notwithstanding the plurality among our points of view, is likely to strengthen the actions we take in different multilateral forums and levels.
The United Nations offers the only political arena that incorporates all the different systems of values. There is a consensus among the BRICs that it is essential to achieve a successful conclusion to the comprehensive process of UN reforms, so as to keep the UN at the centre of the world system we desire. Postponing such reforms indefinitely, including those of the Security Council, will exacerbate the risk that its authority will suffer erosion.
At the WTO, the manner in which Brazil, China and India have already been collaborating within the G-20 framework demonstrates the potential for that kind of cooperation. We welcome the future entry of Russia into the WTO as a positive development in the evolution of the multilateral trading system.
We should also continue to advocate reform and modernization of the international financial institutions. This subject will be addressed in November, at the Meeting of the Economy Ministers of the BRICs, proposed by Brazil.
We also recall the dialogue between the G-8 and the G-5, in which the BRICs are present on both sides of the table. At a time when there is interest in economic stability and expanding trading relations, without unwarranted barriers against trade or investments, the BRICs share the desire to see their views reflected in the discussions of the major topics on the international agenda, such as combating hunger and poverty, energy security, climate change, and promoting development.
Our countries' perspectives are essential to achieving progress in discussions of some global issues and world governance itself. Access to natural resources, with all its economic and geostrategic implications, seems to have become increasingly vital on the international agenda.
Of the four BRICs, Brazil and Russia are among the world’s largest suppliers of natural resources, especially energy resources, while China and India are among the largest consumers. The same could be said, mutatis mutandis, on the issue of food security. Discussions between the four in areas such as these can be just as significant, or even more so, than such discussions within the G-7 framework.
There is a vast potential for cooperation in advanced technology fields. In terms of trade, Russia, China and India already import almost US$ 16 billion annually in Brazilian products.
The fact that we have created new associations does not reduce the importance of other alliances that Brazil has built under President Lula. Such is the case with the India, Brazil and South Africa Cooperation Forum, as well as the summit meetings between South America and the Arab countries and South America and the African countries. Most importantly, it is especially true for the integration process in our region, which gained a new momentum with the recent signing of the Unasul treaty.
The BRICs have a clear goal within the context of such coalitions variable geometry. Without impulsiveness or defiance, the time has come to begin rearranging the world towards meeting the expectations and needs of the overwhelming majority of humanity.