MOSCOW, 10 Dec BRICS should create a free trade zone, Musa Mbhele, head of the administration of the South African city of Durban, said.
«We would like the BRICS countries to create a free trade zone, this should be discussed, as we want to contribute to the development of trade relations in the BRICS,» he said.
The South African official said that cooperation between Russia and South Africa has always been fruitful, and membership in the BRICS only strengthened it.
«When I was little, I knew that the Russians would free us, help us resist European domination. The Russians have always been our friends, and with the advent of the BRICS and the BRICS Development Bank, this cooperation has only intensified. We have not addressed this structure yet, but I would like to learn more about the opportunities that this bank provides. I can assure you that thanks to the BRICS, our relations are only getting stronger, «- he stressed .
He also suggested that the next BRICS summit be held in Durban, which is called the «gateway to Africa», since it is from there that most cargo from South Africa is sent to other countries, this is the largest port in the southern hemisphere.
Earlier, South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Maketuka said that the political crisis in his country in connection with the investigation against the incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa, initiated by the opposition party, would not negatively affect relations with Russia and would not affect the country's membership in the BRICS.
BRICS unites Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. A number of other countries want to join the economic bloc, including Argentina, Iran, and, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.