(AGENPARL) – MOSCOW mer 22 giugno 2022

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: President Xi Jinping,

Friends,

It is my pleasure to welcome representatives of governments
and business communities, experts and industry professionals of the BRICS
countries who have gathered at the traditional Business Forum.

The Forum indeed plays a large
practical role in promoting mutual trade and investment, strengthening
cooperation ties and enhancing direct dialogue between business communities,
not only within our Association, but also in a broader, global dimension. After
all, the participants in the BRICS Business Forum represent the interests of a significant and the most dynamically developing part of the international
economic community.

In this regard, I would like to recall that our countries are home to more than 3 billion people, and together account for about a quarter of the global GDP, 20 per cent of trade and roughly 25 per cent
of direct investments, while
the total international reserves of the BRICS countries (as of the beginning of 2022) amount to about 35 per cent of world reserves.

Hence the high relevance, in our
opinion, of the theme of this Forum – Foster
High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development.
It is also important that the agenda of the Forum is packed with truly crucial issues,
such as ensuring sustainable growth of the global economy, preserving its
openness, increasing cooperation in the field of digital economy, green growth,
industry modernization, and building new transport and logistics chains.

Russia
supports the draft Beijing Initiative to be adopted following the Forum, which reaffirms determination
of BRICS business circles to continue close joint work in all the areas mentioned.

Entrepreneurs of our countries are forced to develop their business
in a challenging environment when the Western partners neglect the basic
principles of market economy, free trade, and inviolability of private
property. They follow, in fact, an irresponsible macroeconomic course, including
the launch of the “printing press” – uncontrolled emission and accumulation of unsecured debts.

At the same time more and more
politically motivated sanctions are continuously introduced, mechanisms of exerting pressure on competitors are further strengthened. There is intentional
destruction of cooperation ties; transport and logistics chains are destroyed.
And all this is contrary to common sense and basic economic logic, it undermines business
interests on a global scale, negatively affecting the wellbeing of people, in effect, of all countries.

As a result, the problems in the world
economy become recurrent.
What we see is an economic
slowdown, growing
unemployment, shortages in raw materials and components. Problems with ensuring
global food security are getting
worse; prices for grain crops and other basic agricultural products are being inflated.

It is important that, despite all
the problems and difficulties, BRICS business circles have been consistently enhancing mutually
beneficial ties in the areas of trade, finance, and investment. For example, in the first three months of this
year, trade between the Russian Federation and the BRICS countries increased by 38 per cent – and reached USD 45 billion.

Contacts between Russian business circles and the business
community of the BRICS countries have intensified. For example, negotiations
are underway to open Indian chain stores in Russia, increase the share of Chinese cars, equipment, and hardware on our market. ­­­ In its turn, Russia’s presence in the BRICS countries is growing.­­ There has been a noticeable increase in the exports of Russian oil to China and India. ­

Agricultural cooperation is developing
dynamically. Russia
exports considerable amounts of fertilizers to the BRICS states. Russian IT companies
are expanding their activities in India and South Africa, and our satellites
enable TV broadcasting for as many as 40 million residents of Brazil.­­­

Together with BRICS partners, we are
developing reliable alternative mechanisms for international settlements. The Russian Financial Messaging System is open for connection with the banks of the BRICS countries. The Russian MIR payment system is expanding its presence. ­­We
are exploring the possibility of creating an international reserve currency
based on the basket of BRICS currencies.­

The Russian business community, in coordination with the business communities of the BRICS states, takes prompt
steps to develop the transport infrastructure. Logistics routes are readjusted,
new production chains are
created.

I would like to stress that Russia’s
strategy has not changed: while strengthening our economic, technological and scientific potential, we are ready to work openly with all bona fide partners based on the principles
of mutual respect
for each other’s interests, the primacy of international law, and equality for all nations and peoples.

During my address at the recent
St. Petersburg International
Economic Forum, I have already spoken in detail about our plans for further
economic development and the creation of comfortable conditions for business in general, including foreign business. It is significant that representatives of foreign companies and entrepreneurs who came to St. Petersburg showed
their willingness to continue working on the Russian market and adapt to new
conditions. And we
will certainly provide all
the necessary assistance to them.

In general, I would like to note
that Russia is taking comprehensive measures aimed at mitigating the negative
impact of sanctions and strengthening our trade and investment relations with
all the states concerned.

Our macroeconomic policy shows its
effectiveness in practice. We were able to protect the Russian financial system
and begin to stabilize the situation in the industry by providing targeted
social support to citizens.

The Russian state, first of all,
focuses on stimulating the private initiative. We strive to expand entrepreneurial freedoms by reducing the administrative
burden, launching new easy-term lending programs, and introducing tax and customs exemptions.

We are actively engaged in redirecting our trade flows and foreign economic
contacts to reliable international partners, first of all, the BRICS countries.

Taking the opportunity, I am pleased
to invite representatives of your states to the Eastern Economic Forum, which
will be held in Vladivostok in early September, where many issues relevant to the BRICS business community will also be discussed.

In conclusion, I would like to express my confidence that the work of the Business Forum of our Association
will continue to focus on expanding trade, business, investment and production
ties of the BRICS countries.

Certainly, I would like to thank the President of the People’s
Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, and all Chinese friends for organizing this
Forum, and I wish its participants success and all the best.

Thank you.

Fonte/Source: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/68689