Brazil to host BRICs vice foreign ministerial meeting

Rio de Janeiro will host a meeting of the vice foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs) on March 10 and 11, which will serve as a preparation for the meeting of their foreign ministers, planned for mid-May in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Brazil's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the meeting would be accompanied by Brazil's Secretary General of Foreign Relations Samuel Pinheiro Guimaraes, Russia's Vice Foreign Minister Serguey Ivanovitch Kislyak, Indian Foreign Ministry's Secretary of Economic Affairs K. C. Singh and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi.

Since the end of last year, ambassadors of the four countries have been meeting regularly to check issues concerning the international scenario, such as reforms in international organizations, economy and finance, development, energy, environment, disarmament and nonproliferation.

The countries identified as "BRICs" have in common large populations, territories of continental size and aplenty natural resources. They are playing an increasingly important part in the world's trade and economic development the past years.