Growing BRICS-Plus Municipal Forum Meets in St. Petersburg

Nov. 26, 2022 (EIRNS)—The organizers of the 4th International Municipal BRICS-Plus Forum report that government officials, businessmen, public figures, and representatives of different communities from 64 countries are participating in the forum taking place Nov. 24-26 this year. The discussion in the many panels and meetings centered on the topic for this year’s Forum: “Humankind and the World: Development of Trends and Adaptation to the New.”

Included among the 900 or so speakers was Schiller Institute researcher Stephan Ossenkopp, who spoke in the Nov. 25 panel called: “In Everyone’s Interest: National Development Goals; Time of Change: New Definitions of Sovereignty in Global and Local Dimensions.” Ossenkopp used his remarks on “Germany’s Energy Crisis and Its Geopolitical Dimensions” to convey the Schiller Institute’s perspective, that is necessary and possible to persuade broad strata of the West, that the only way out of the crisis resulting from the collapse of the neoliberal system, with its threat of nuclear war and deindustrial decimation, is for the West to cooperate with the dynamic of peaceful coexistence taking shape around the BRICS.

IMBRICS+, as they call themselves, was proposed by a St. Petersburg delegation to the 2018 South Africa BRICS conference, which accepted. The Forum was envisaged as a “platform for cooperation between regional and municipal officials and business communities,” promoting “the development of social and economic well-being of municipal territories, introduction of information, digital and innovative technologies in the daily activities of major cities in developing countries ... building business communications and attracting investments to the regions and municipal cities of the BRICS countries and partner states.” Business agreements between various combinations of participants are expected.

This year, with the largest presence of “plus” countries (outside the five BRICS members) yet, the focus will be on Asian, Ibero-America, African and the Arab countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s message to the Forum opening spoke to the underlying concept underlying the BRICS process, that of fostering collaboration between different civilizations and nations on furthering their common interest, that of development:

“It is good to see that not only BRICS delegations but also representatives of our partners in Asia, Africa, Central and South America are taking part in the forum. We welcome their genuine interest in developing multi-dimensional cooperation with our group. And it is not surprising. After all, the forum is based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and fair treatment. BRICS encapsulates synergy of cultures and civilizations representing different regions of the planet. This international framework is an example of multilateral diplomacy that matches the realities of the 21st century....

“You will be discussing major courses and national strategies in the sustainable development of regions. You will be sharing best municipal governance practices and will review prospects for implementing joint projects. In no small measure, this kind of meaningful dialogue seeking practical solutions to improve the quality of life for our citizens forms a future-oriented and constructive cooperation agenda.

“It is obvious that solutions to the numerous problems of modern times, be it security or the economy, can only be found through collective efforts, relying on the balance of interests and generally recognized international legal norms. I am confident that today’s event will follow the same constructive course as the cooperation within BRICS in general.”