STORY: BRICS helps developing countries make voices count in global governance: expert
DATELINE: Aug. 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:55
LOCATION: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of street views in Johannesburg
2. SOUNDBITE (English): CAVINCE ADHERE, Kenya-based international relations scholar
3. various of Africa
4. various of street views in Johannesburg

STORYLINE:

The 15th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held on Aug. 22-24 in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa.

Cavince Adhere, a Kenyan international relations scholar, said that BRICS has provided an opportunity for developing countries to make their voices count in global governance.

The expert noted that BRICS is a platform for collaboration where developing countries can work together to overcome their development challenges.

SOUNDBITE (English): CAVINCE ADHERE, Kenya-based international relations scholar
"The BRICS summit is a very strong platform for collaboration, especially among South-South countries.
It has provided an opportunity for developing countries to the emerging global governance. And it has also provided incentives, including market, large markets.
BRICS today account for 40 percent of the world population that provides a large market for developing countries. It is also a very strong source of investments and capital.
I'm happy to realize that the BRICS institution, such as the New Development Bank, is today funding infrastructure projects even outside the BRICS countries.     
So I think BRICS also offers an opportunity for intercultural collaboration among the participating countries, but also the other countries which have got a framework for collaboration. And that's why you see today, over 40 countries have expressed interest to join BRICS.
BRICS gives these countries a new opportunity to work together to overcome their development challenges. It provides them with the market, it provides them with resources, it provides them with the inspiration.
We also see Global South countries are drawing some governance inspiration from BRICS. They are beginning to understand that if you work together, you can create alternatives that can rival traditionally dominant countries. 
This is important and that is why you see more African countries want to join because they want the proceeds for development from this BRICS measure. They want their voices to count in global governance. They want an alternative cultural perspective that can support their own development."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa.
(XHTV)