‘What Makes BRICS Effective Is Its Diversity’: HSE University Representatives Begin Work at EEF
HSE University Vice Rector Victoria Panova spoke at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF 2024) that began in Vladivostok. The topic of her speech was the expansion of BRICS.
Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia, Vice Rector of HSE University, and Russia's Sherpa in the Women 20, moderated the session ‘Expanded BRICS: New Components of Global Stability.’ In her opening remarks, she stated that the current year has become a landmark for the association, and that the enlargement of BRICS in 2024 has increased its effectiveness.
‘Since January 1, 2024, BRICS has expanded. No one could have expected, even before Johannesburg, even on the eve of the summit, that such a significant transformation would occur. Nobody could have predicted that BRICS would grow by almost a half,’ she emphasised.
During this expansion process, there are always difficulties that can negatively affect the work of organisations, but the authority of BRICS has not collapsed in the slightest, noted Victoria Panova. New member countries of the association have not only integrated, but also frequently offered their own initiatives.
‘Given the diverse traditions, religions, cultures, political systems, financial and economic approaches of the member countries, it might seem that this would make the group's work impossible. But what makes BRICS effective is, in fact, its diversity,’ Head of the Council noted.
In the history of BRICS, the year 2024 has been identified as a significant milestone, as noted by many speakers. The expansion of the association not only opens new windows of opportunity, but also poses complex challenges. Now, the focus of BRICS is on learning how to operate with a new composition, integrating new members into the group’s activities as quickly and efficiently as possible. At the same time, it is essential to develop mechanisms for maintaining sustainability and to strengthen the internal unity among the BRICS nations.
Other speakers at the session were: Alireza Khoda Gholipour, Deputy Director General and Director for Asian Studies at the Institute of Political and International Studies; Mohamed Salah, Chairman of the Eurasia and BRICS Forum, member of the advisory board of the World Forum of Tourism Experts; Sergey Storchak, senior banker at VEB.RF; Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies, expert of the working group ‘Country Analysis and Analysis of BRICS National Strategies’ of the BRICS Expert Council–Russia; Zhao Jing, Deputy Secretary General of the China Council for BRICS Think-tank Cooperation; and Dmitry Prokhorenko Director for Foreign Network Development at Russian Export Centre JSC.
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