Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand is pushing forward with its plan to become a member of the BRICS group of emerging economies as early as October at the bloc's next summit in Russia, according to the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura.
The group is an emerging-market cooperative mechanism that initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In January, it expanded its membership to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia.
Nikorndej said that his country submitted a formal letter of intent to join during the BRICS ministerial meeting over a week ago and hoped to receive positive feedback.
Joining BRICS will allow Thailand to leverage further in advancing South-South cooperation as well as to play a more proactive role and contribute to crafting the global architecture, affirmed the spokesman.
Thailand is also looking to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), after being invited by the Paris-based group to open accession discussions./.
Malaysia to join BRICS soon
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on June 18 that he has expressed the country’s wish to join the intergovernmental organisation BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
