Russian President, Vladimir Putin Send New Year Greetings to BRICS Heads of state And Government

By KESTER KENN KLOMEGAH, Moscow

On the eve of 2017, Vladimir Putin sent Christmas and New Year greetings to heads of state and government including BRICS member countries.

In his message to President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Michel Temer, Putin warmly recounted a bilateral meeting during the BRICS Summit in Goa and confirmed his commitment to continue meaningful dialogue and constructive collaboration to strengthen the Russian-Brazilian strategic partnership. He expressed hope that Temer will accept his invitation to make a state visit to Russia.

In his message of greetings both to President of the Republic of India, Pranab Mukherjee, and Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Modi, he noted that the outgoing year was successful for Russian-Indian relations, which have reached the level of specially privileged strategic partnership.

Putin thanked the Indian side for its hospitality when hosting the BRICS Summit in Goa and expressed hope that the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and India will be marked in 2017 with new success in enhancing productive bilateral cooperation in many areas, in particular, in resolving urgent issues on the regional and global agenda.

In his congratulatory message to President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, on the New Year and the upcoming Spring Festival, Putin spoke highly of all-round Russian-Chinese cooperation and strategic partnership, and noted the successful coordination of Russia’s and China’s efforts to address urgent issues on the regional and global agenda.

He further expressed confidence in the stepped-up dynamism of bilateral cooperation to the benefit of both nations and for stronger international stability and security.

In his message to President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, the Russian President said that the Russia-South Africa meeting at the highest level during the BRICS Summit in Goa confirmed that bilateral relations were successfully developing in the past year in the spirit of comprehensive strategic partnership.

Putin expressed confidence that Russia and South Africa will continue constructive cooperation both bilaterally and as part of various international organisations and forums.

The five BRICS countries represent over 3.6 billion people and have a combined nominal GDP of US$16.6 trillion. These BRICS countries are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.