Lavrov and Shukri discuss the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories

Today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri developments in the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to issues of delivering humanitarian aid reaching the Gaza Strip.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “During their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, Lavrov and Shukri discussed the substantive aspects of the Middle East agenda, with a focus on the ongoing escalation in the Palestinian territories”. The ministry noted that the two sides stressed the need to intensify international efforts, in order to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ensure the arrival of sustainable humanitarian aid, in order to provide the necessary assistance to the residents of the Strip.

The statement added: Lavrov and Shukri reviewed current issues related to continuing to develop Russian-Egyptian relations and maintaining dialogue between the two countries, as well as developing trade, economic and humanitarian relations.

Lavrov met today with the foreign ministers of the BRICS countries, which include Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa, in addition to Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in the city of Nizhny Novgorod.

Chinese foreign minister lauds Russia’s efforts toward cooperation within expanded BRICS

Also, on the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Tass reported.

The Chinese minister told Lavrov that as the BRICS chair in 2024, Russia has done a huge job since the latest expansion of the organization to launch cooperation between the ten member countries.

Since January 1, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Wang Yi is confident that the event underway in Nizhny Novgorod will “lay a solid basis for the first BRICS summit upon its expansion” as he said that the grouping was seeking to boost “allied cooperation”

“As the [BRICS] chair, Russia has done huge work on setting up cooperation since BRICS has included new members. We, for one, will do all the necessary work, too,” China’s top diplomat assured Lavrov.

Also, Wang expressed his confidence that the event underway in Nizhny Novgorod will “lay a solid basis for the first BRICS summit upon its expansion” as he said that the grouping was seeking to boost “allied cooperation.” “[BRICS] expansion will play an increasingly important role in global governance,” he emphasized.

Souha Suleiman