The joint efforts of BRICS countries should be directed towards the protection of international law. This was stated by Russian Prime Minister in a welcoming telegram to participants, guests, and organizers of the IX Legal Forum of BRICS countries.

«Joint efforts within BRICS should be aimed at protecting the fundamental postulates of international law. I am confident that discussions at the forum will be held in a friendly and constructive manner, contribute to solving common tasks, and allow for the exchange of forward-looking ideas,» the telegram published on the government’s website said.

Mishustin noted that the forum is an authoritative platform for exchanging views among representatives of the legal community of the entire association. Such interaction is particularly important today, especially when the global system of norms that regulate relations between states is being tested for strength, he believes.

«We see that the collective West uses unilateral coercive measures as the main instrument of its actions on the international stage, undermining the principles of cooperation, violating the sovereignty of states, and norms of international law. More and more countries are subjected to such pressure,» the Prime Minister said.

The head of the cabinet of ministers emphasized the relevance of the forum theme — «LAW: SAFEGUARDING A FAIR WORLD». He reminded that strengthening the fundamental foundations of international relations is among the priorities of Russia’s chairmanship in BRICS in 2024, and the new Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation emphasized the promotion of a sustainable and genuinely multipolar world order. The Prime Minister stressed that this aspiration is shared by many of our like-minded partners abroad. For example, countries of the Global South are taking a course towards strengthening their sovereignty and defending national interests.

«I wish all participants productive work,» he concluded.