India and Brazil on Friday decided to step up efforts to push the UN reforms, particularly the Security Council and signed half a dozen agreements in areas ranging from science and biotechnology to cultural exchanges.
Leaders of the emerging world met in India on Thursday to discuss creating a new development bank, at a summit in which the bloc will seek to convert its economic might into collective diplomatic clout.
The five major emerging economies of BRICS -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- are set to inject greater economic momentum into their grouping by signing two pacts for promoting intra-BRICS trade at the fourth summit of their leaders in New Delhi on Thursday.
Brazil urged the World Bank on Wednesday to give proper consideration to developing country candidates to replace outgoing president Robert Zoellick and not just go with an American.
Brazil conditioned the disbursement of more funds for the IMF to help countries in crisis to a greater say in the multilateral organization and the advance of European initiatives to solve the current Euro and debt crisis.
Brazil does not want to see the BRICS group of emerging countries enlarged for the time being but demands the developing world be given a greater say in international bodies, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Major emerging economies are ready to provide financial help to the Euro zone via the International Monetary Fund but in return want commitments to reform the IMF to be implemented, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff said that solutions to European and global economic difficulties need to promote economic growth and employment. Ms Rousseff arrived Wednesday in France for the summit of G-20 leaders this week, but before will be meeting with peers from the BRICS group to work out a common stance.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which make up the so-called BRICS group, will meet in Washington next week to discuss how to help the European Union avert a full-blown financial crisis as Greece veers toward default on its debt, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said Tuesday.
China's top customs authority announced Friday that trade with the other four BRICS nations surged by 45.8% to reach 59.9 billion US dollars in the first quarter of this year.