Asian country accepts BRICS invitation 

Thailand has confirmed its readiness to become a partner state, local media has reported

Thailand has formally accepted Russia’s invitation to become a BRICS partner state, local media reported on Wednesday.

A new ‘partner country’ status was approved at the BRICS summit in Kazan in October, and is intended to serve as an alternative to membership after more than 30 nations applied to join the organization.

BRICS initially comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and was expanded this year to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

On Tuesday, Thailand’s cabinet agreed to the decision, local media reported. Speaking to the press, spokesman Nikondet Phalangkun said that Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa had sent a letter to his Russian counterpart confirming the kingdom’s consent to become a BRICS partner country, according to TASS.

On October 31, Thailand received an official invitation from Russia, which at present holds the group’s rotating presidency, to become a BRICS partner, Phalangkun said.

“Acquiring BRICS partner country status is an important step for Thailand towards joining BRICS as a full member in the future. This is the first step on this path,” TASS quoted Phalangkun as saying.

Partner countries are granted permanent participation in special sessions of BRICS summits and foreign ministers’ meetings, as well as other high-level events. Partners can also contribute to the group’s outcome documents.

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The new status is expected to boost Thailand’s relations with other members of the grouping and provide new opportunities for developing its economy, the spokesman explained.

Thailand previously said it was seeking full membership in BRICS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that joining the group would benefit the country by boosting trade, investment, food and energy security.

Earlier this week, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov announced that nine countries would officially become BRICS partner states. The senior Kremlin official emphasized the importance of partner state status, and named Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan as the nations that would receive it on January 1.

More than two dozen countries have shown interest in cooperating with BRICS, according to Ushakov. The countries are Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Colombia, the Republic of Congo, Laos, Kuwait, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Syria, Chad, Sri Lanka, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.