FORTALEZA, July 15 (RIA Novosti) - The BRICS countries' role in international affairs is increasing with the block's gaining more and more weight, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the plenary session of the BRICS summit in Brazil's Fortaleza Tuesday.
"Our countries are playing a more significant role in the international arena," Putin said.
"Thanks to Russia's and China's firm stance in the UN Security Council, supported by other BRICS members, we have managed to prevent an international invasion in Syria, to reach the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons," Putin stressed.
The leaders of the five largest emerging world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are meeting in the Brazilian cities of Fortaleza and Brasilia July 15-16 to discuss global issues on cooperation in trade, investment, credit and finances. The next BRICS summit will be held in Russian city of Ufa on July 9-10, 2015.
