First Day of the IX Legal Forum of BRICS Countries Concluded

On September 19, the IX Legal Forum of BRICS countries commenced at MGIMO. The event began with a plenary session titled «Law: Safeguarding a Fair World.»

Vladimir Pligin, Co-Chairman of the Russian Lawyers Association and moderator of the session, noted that the recent expansion of BRICS and the increasing number of applications for membership from various states highlight the appeal of the BRICS model of international cooperation based on mutual respect and equal dialogue.

Serghei Stepashin, Chairman of the Russian Lawyers Association, emphasized that BRICS member states advocate for the establishment of a fair and stable global order, which necessitates strict adherence to the rule of law in international relations. He stated, «Achieving these goals is impossible without an active position from the legal communities of BRICS countries.»

One of the crucial topics for discussion highlighted by Stepashin was the legal protection of economic relations. He remarked, «For the developing markets of BRICS countries, attracting international investments is critical. This requires building mechanisms to protect investor rights and resolve disputes at the international level. However, investors must comply with national legislation, respect local traditions, and not become instruments for imposing foreign values.»

Russian Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko, speaking at the forum, noted that it provides an opportunity for BRICS legal community representatives to better understand each other’s legal systems. He pointed out that, while not a legal organization, BRICS differs favorably from other international cooperation formats by respecting the principles of sovereign equality and the supremacy of international law in regulating relations.

Chuychenko mentioned the enormous potential of BRICS countries in terms of economic power and population size, stating that to realize this potential, relationships based on human-centered principles, civil stability, and a reasonable balance between private and public interests must be strengthened among citizens, organizations, and states.

The Minister also highlighted future areas for developing the BRICS legal framework, including improving citizens’ access to legal information across member nations, aligning legal regulatory approaches to cross-border issues, and enhancing international legal assistance mechanisms.

MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov emphasized the importance of scientific and educational collaboration in legal education among BRICS countries. Viktor Blazheev, Rector of O.E. Kutafin Moscow State Law University and Co-Chairman of the Russian Lawyers Association, stressed the need to develop joint educational programs and enhance legal education through a network university of BRICS countries.

Chinese representatives supported these views, asserting that the development of legal theories and practices would strengthen cooperation in training personnel to effectively address legal issues.

Vice President of the Chinese Law Society, Jing Hanchao, highlighted that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. He noted, “The relationship between our countries has endured many challenges over the years, making it even stronger.”

According to Jing, BRICS is becoming an important force for achieving security and ensuring multipolarity in the world, with the rule of law as the fundamental basis for relationships among member states.

He pointed out key areas of relevance in the discussion on BRICS, including legal support for economic development and collaborative solutions to environmental and climatic legal issues.

Andoleianpour Hasan, head of the Center for Judges, State Experts, and Family Advisors in Iran, proposed the establishment of a Unified Center for Interaction in International Law and legal schools for regular experience exchange, along with the creation of a Unified Digital Platform.

Bruno Magalhães, Vice President of the Brazilian Association of Lawyers for International Affairs, stressed that all BRICS countries hold significant influence globally and should use this power to build a sustainable and just world. “We need to develop new standards and find legal solutions based on the protection of human rights,” he asserted.

Kumar Prashant, President of the Association of Lawyers of India, advocated for the creation of independent BRICS institutions for resolving economic disputes rather than relying on external entities.

Mfundela Nkosana, Vice President of the Law Society of South Africa, stated that the IX Legal Forum must first assess progress made over the past 10 years and emphasized the need to transition to tangible practical achievements to establish a new world order.

During the first day of the forum, participants outlined key areas for further collaboration among BRICS countries on legal matters, and discussed topics related to legal education, digital technologies, investment dispute resolution mechanisms, and international justice in today’s world.

This forum is part of the official calendar of events for the Russian Federation’s presidency in BRICS and is organized by the Russian Lawyers Association, MGIMO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and O.E. Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL). Since its inception in 2014, the BRICS Legal Forum has served as a permanent open platform for legal cooperation and the exchange of best practices and ideas among BRICS lawyers, promoting «legal diplomacy» and enhancing the legal profession’s status.