STORY: Many countries show interest to join BRICS: Ethiopian expert
DATELINE: Aug. 21, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:11
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Johannesburg
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MELAKU MULUALEM, Senior international relations and diplomacy researcher, Ethiopia's Institute of Strategic Affairs
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MELAKU MULUALEM, Senior international relations and diplomacy researcher, Ethiopia's Institute of Strategic Affairs

STORYLINE:

The 15th BRICS Summit will be held in Johannesburg, Johannesburg from Aug. 22 to 24.

An Ethiopian expert said BRICS has become an alternative for institutions dominated by the West.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MELAKU MULUALEM, Senior international relations and diplomacy researcher, Ethiopia's Institute of Strategic Affairs
"BRICS represents the developing countries. As we all know, the present globalization issue is full of injustice and dominated by especially Western countries, and especially by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank and other Western institutions, and they are being used as twisting arms of other countries through financial support, and also other supports. BRICS has become an alternative for this."

According to the expert, many African countries have shown interest in joining the BRICS.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MELAKU MULUALEM, Senior international relations and diplomacy researcher, Ethiopia's Institute of Strategic Affairs
"Participating in the conference in this BRICS (upcoming BRICS Summit) is important for other African countries to know more about BRICS. And also many of them may also apply, like Ethiopia, to join this organization."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)