Intn'l symposium on BRIC countries' coop opens in Beijing

BEIJING, March 24 (Itar-Tass) -- The international scientific
symposium titled "BRIC countries - - development, cooperation,
co-prosperity" has opened in the Chinese capital on Thursday.
On the part of Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian
Academy of Sciences, as well as the funds "Unity for the Sake of Russia"
and "Russian World" take part in it. China is represented by the Chinese
Modern World Studies Centre. Experts of Brazil, India and South Africa
will also speak at the symposium.
"Before the symposium, the 3rd BRIC summit will be held on the Chinese
island of Hainan in April. Our event is held at the level of experts,"
executive director of the fund "Russian World" Vyacheslav Nikonov said in
an interview with ITAR-TASS. Scientists, diplomats and public figures, as
he said, will discuss issues of cooperation between BRIC countries and
assess different challenges, including issues connected with the situation
in the Middle East and Northern Africa.
"The expansion of our organization to five members representing
different continents means that it develops even quicker than observers
forecasted. If earlier it was supposed that BRIC countries will occupy
leading positions in the world by the 40s of this century, then now it is
likely to the 20s," Nikonov said. "Theoretically, we cannot rule out that
BRIC will further expand, many strive to join our ranks, however, now we
aim first of all to deepen mutual interaction," the political scientist
said.
Five quickly developing countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and
South Africa are BRIC members.