On June 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Moscow time), the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Institute of African Studies (IAS) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) will hold a conference, “BRICS and Africa: Political, Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation”.
2025 marks the anniversary of the Bandung Conference, which launched the start of Afro-Asian solidarity and the Non-Aligned Movement. In 1955, leaders of the newly liberated Global South colonies gathered in Bandung, Indonesia, to discuss further decolonization efforts, non-alignment to superpower blocs, as well as outline directions for future political, economic and cultural cooperation. The historic conference established key principles that helped maintain post-colonial peace, including respect for sovereignty, non-interference, peaceful coexistence, equality of all peoples and respect for civilizational diversity.
In many ways, BRICS countries continue to follow the principles and values set at the Bandung Conference. Striving to achieve equal representation and diversity in global governance, BRICS members have consistently urged to redistribute power in key international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). Additionally, BRICS members have called to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to better reflect the interests of the global majority. The recent waves of BRICS enlargement are heavily the result of the support and interest shown by African countries. In 2023, Ethiopia and Egypt became members, while the following year, three African states were invited as partner countries. Growing African influence on BRICS development is a testament to the growth of African subjectivity and the intention of BRICS to further develop in the spirit of multipolarity, inclusiveness and solidarity.
As the upcoming conference coincides with the anniversary of the Bandung Conference, discussions will focus on the principles that now outline Afro-Asian solidarity amid global geopolitical changes, the world's aspiration to multipolarity and the strengthening of African subjectivity. The event will also focus on the key aspects outlining political and economic cooperation between African and BRICS countries, African interests in developing alternative financial systems within the BRICS framework, infrastructure projects in Africa, areas of humanitarian cooperation between African countries and BRICS, in addition to various other topics.
Representatives of relevant ministries and departments, leading Russian and foreign international relation scholars are invited to participate in the conference.
On June 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (Moscow time), the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Institute of African Studies (IAS) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) will hold a conference, “BRICS and Africa: Political, Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation”.
2025 marks the anniversary of the Bandung Conference, which launched the start of Afro-Asian solidarity and the Non-Aligned Movement. In 1955, leaders of the newly liberated Global South colonies gathered in Bandung, Indonesia, to discuss further decolonization efforts, non-alignment to superpower blocs, as well as outline directions for future political, economic and cultural cooperation. The historic conference established key principles that helped maintain post-colonial peace, including respect for sovereignty, non-interference, peaceful coexistence, equality of all peoples and respect for civilizational diversity.
In many ways, BRICS countries continue to follow the principles and values set at the Bandung Conference. Striving to achieve equal representation and diversity in global governance, BRICS members have consistently urged to redistribute power in key international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). Additionally, BRICS members have called to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to better reflect the interests of the global majority. The recent waves of BRICS enlargement are heavily the result of the support and interest shown by African countries. In 2023, Ethiopia and Egypt became members, while the following year, three African states were invited as partner countries. Growing African influence on BRICS development is a testament to the growth of African subjectivity and the intention of BRICS to further develop in the spirit of multipolarity, inclusiveness and solidarity.
As the upcoming conference coincides with the anniversary of the Bandung Conference, discussions will focus on the principles that now outline Afro-Asian solidarity amid global geopolitical changes, the world's aspiration to multipolarity and the strengthening of African subjectivity. The event will also focus on the key aspects outlining political and economic cooperation between African and BRICS countries, African interests in developing alternative financial systems within the BRICS framework, infrastructure projects in Africa, areas of humanitarian cooperation between African countries and BRICS, in addition to various other topics.
Representatives of relevant ministries and departments, leading Russian and foreign international relation scholars are invited to participate in the conference.
The conference will take place on June 16, 2025 10:00 to 15:00 (Moscow time) at the RIAC conference hall and online.
