Ethiopian State Foreign Minister Mesganu Arega addressed the plenary session of the BRICS 2024 Summit, urging greater collaboration among countries of the Global South to confront global crises and advance sustainable development. Speaking at the outreach session hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Arega emphasized the importance of accelerating the development of the Global South to promote growth and reform global governance.
Arega thanked President Putin for convening the gathering, which brought together BRICS members and nations from the Global South, including emerging economies. He highlighted the historical responsibility of these countries to pool their resources, align their positions, and address pressing global challenges. “We can contribute to the reduction of conflicts devastating many countries in several regions and contribute to alleviating human suffering,” Arega noted.
The minister stressed the need to mobilize development finance to achieve sustainable development goals and alleviate the heavy debt burden on developing economies. He called for predictable, transparent, and expedited debt restructuring to ensure access to critical concessional finance while respecting the policy autonomy of developing nations. Arega said, “This will facilitate necessary economic reforms and foster sustainable development.”
He also emphasized the growing influence of emerging markets and developing countries in global affairs. “It is incumbent on us to strengthen our solidarity and partnership to speak in a common voice and leverage the process of global governance reform,” Arega stated, calling for expanded representation of the Global South, particularly Africa, in global economic institutions.
Highlighting the potential of increased cooperation, Arega called for greater efforts to boost trade, investment, and tourism within the Global South. He stressed the importance of removing trade barriers and extending tariff- and quota-free market access to developing nations to unlock significant growth opportunities. “The market potential created by the significant population size, rapid growth in connectivity, and technological advancements makes intra-Global South trade a key driver of global trade,” he said.
Turning to regional conflicts, Arega expressed Ethiopia’s concern over the escalating violence in Gaza and Lebanon, calling for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue to end the humanitarian crisis. He stressed the need for all regional actors to exercise restraint and seek peaceful resolutions. Arega reiterated Ethiopia’s support for a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel, based on relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, as the foundation for lasting peace in the region.
In conclusion, Arega reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthening BRICS engagement with emerging markets and developing countries based on equality, solidarity, and mutual respect. He highlighted the accelerated development of the Global South as a vital tool in addressing global challenges, including peace and security, poverty alleviation, and the fight against climate change.
The BRICS 2024 Summit, held in Moscow, focused on deepening economic cooperation and reforming global governance to reflect the growing role of developing nations in shaping the global order.
