A meeting of expert disputing platform “Open Tribune” on the topic “BRICS: Cooperation and Development Perspectives” was held in the State Duma of the Russian Federation

The meeting of “Open Tribune” on the topic “BRICS: Cooperation and Development Perspectives” chaired by Mr. Sergey Naryshkin was held in the State Duma of Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on March 5, 2015. The meeting was attended by the governmental authorities` representatives, political parties factions` leaders as well as experts.

The discussion focused on a wide range of BRICS members` cooperation issues and forthcoming Russian BRICS presidency. The participants discussed the BRICS and SCO agendas interrelation, BRICS member countries` parliamentary institutions cooperation, and BRICS engagement with regional integration unions (Eurasian Economic Union, African Union etc).

Mr. Vadim Lukov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Coordinator for G20 and BRICS Affairs outlined the main priorities of the Russian BRICS presidency and Russia`s approaches to cooperation within BRICS.

The presentations made by Dr. Marina Larionova, RSPP Managing Director for International Relations and Mr. Boris Heifets, Senior Research Fellow of RAS Institute of Economics focused on economic cooperation priorities within BRICS, in particular investment, financial markets, insurance and creating of favorable climate for doing business. Dr. Marina Larionova emphasized the need to ensure that BRICS economic cooperation is implemented through concrete projects. She also noted the necessity to deepen BRICS social policy and uplift decision making on social issues to the level of BRICS heads of states and governments.