Ramaphosa’s Intro Remarks to BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue: the Spirit of Bandung Lives!
Here, we present without spin (we include a report on a preposterous New York Times account of the same events—remember they once said the electric light was an impossibility), the exciting outcome of the just concluded BRICS summit in South Africa. Read for yourself about waht truly constitutes a "tectronic shift" in economic relations on this planet. In a separate report, we present excerpts from the Summit's final communique. You can only get this kind of stuff in oner place, here. If you enjoy important changes, you have some to consider!
Aug. 24, 2023 (EIRNS)—Following the formal proceedings of the five member countries at the BRICS XV Summit in Johannesburg Thursday, South African President Ramaphosa gave opening remarks to the broader audience in attendance during the week. Ramaphosa powerfully evoked the “Spirit of Bandung,” referencing the Non-Aligned Movement’s Bandung, Indonesia, summit in 1955. His remarks indicate the true spirit the BRICS nations are taking up today:
“When reflecting on the purpose and role of BRICS in the world today, we recall the Bandung Conference of 1955, where Asian and African nations demanded a greater voice for developing countries in world affairs. The Conference called for the recognition of the equality of all nations, large and small.
“We still share that common vision of a fair and just world. We still seek to overcome polarity and division. We want a world without barriers between North and South, East and West. We still seek a world in which we work together underpinned by mutual respect.
“Through the 15th BRICS Summit and this Dialogue we should strive to advance the Bandung spirit of unity, friendship and cooperation.
“In South Africa we have a world for this: Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a practice based on the understanding that our success, prosperity and well-being depends on the success, prosperity and well-being of others.”
Ramaphosa went on to discuss the task before BRICS and the Global South’s hope of economic development, after years of tolerating an economic model which saw wealth stolen from their countries in return for minimal progress.
“It is the right of Africa and the entire Global South to fully reap the benefits of global trade and investment. Without trade and investment our economies cannot thrive and our peoples’ material conditions cannot improve. As the African continent we are determined that the continent’s substantial resources are harnessed for the benefit and development of Africa’s people.
“To make use of these opportunities, Africa is looking to the BRICS partnership to unlock infrastructure and development financing. This was part of the founding vision of the New Development Bank. The Bank is playing a leading role in efforts to increase the resilience of the Global South, and to bring fairness to global trading and financial systems by strengthening the use of BRICS currencies.
“We have to reform global economic, financial and political governance, including the multilateral trading system, so that we create a conducive environment for fair trade. While many countries of the Global South are seeing significant progress in industrialisation, technological development, innovation and the digital economy, they are not fully reaping the economic benefits.”
