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New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia was “not against anyone” and was ready to work with its existing and new partners and “the whole world”, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the US-Israeli war had pushed Iran’s economy into a “far more dangerous phase” while addressing the BRICS Business Forum Leaders’ Session in New Delhi.
“We’re not against anyone. And what we are doing is not against anyone either. We are in favour of our interests,” Putin said.
“And we stand ready to work together with all of our partners, old ones and new ones, we are open to working with the whole world,” he said.
Putin said the BRICS Business Council had become a mechanism that “gives an additional impetus to our trade and economic ties”.
“It’ll help implement numerous projects in infrastructure, logistics, finance, technological cooperation, and elsewhere in order to intensify these activities,” Putin said.
Putin also compared the economic growth of BRICS countries with that of the G7.
He said BRICS countries had accounted for more than 40 per cent of global GDP growth over the previous five years, while the G7 accounted for 29 per cent.
“I don’t know why they call themselves the Great Seven,” Putin said.
Putin also referred to the sanctions imposed on Russia, saying the country had faced more than 30,000 sanctions.
Pezeshkian, speaking at the same session, said economic security could not be separated from national and regional security.
He referred to the US-Israeli military action against Iran and said the resulting pressure on Iran had entered a “far more dangerous phase” as a result of the military aggression.
Pezeshkian said Iran needed greater diversification of its trade partners, financing sources and payment channels.
He also called for Iran to play a greater role in BRICS supply chains.
Pezeshkian said Iran’s experience had demonstrated the importance of economic security and called for stronger economic cooperation among BRICS countries.
He also spoke about trade routes and economic connectivity and called for greater cooperation among BRICS members in economic and financial areas.
