Colombia, Uzbekistan join BRICS nations' New Development Bank

The New Development Bank (NDB), founded by the BRICS nations, announced the admission of Colombia and Uzbekistan as official members during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro on July 5.

NDB President Dilma Rousseff emphasized the bank's mission to serve the Global South. She added that additional membership applications are currently under evaluation.

Five BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- established the NDB in 2014. Headquartered in Shanghai, the NDB officially began operations in 2015 to fulfill its mission of mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS member nations, as well as other emerging-market economies and developing countries.

Over the past decade, the NDB has approved over 120 projects totaling 40 billion U.S. dollars, providing financing support for member countries in a wide range of fields, including infrastructure, clean energy, environmental protection, and digital infrastructure.

Since 2021, the bank has expanded its membership to include Bangladesh, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Algeria, and now Colombia and Uzbekistan.

The 17th BRICS Summit is set on Sunday and Monday in Rio de Janeiro. As the rotating chair of the bloc, Brazil is hosting the summit under the banner of "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance".

Colombia, Uzbekistan join BRICS nations' New Development Bank

Colombia, Uzbekistan join BRICS nations' New Development Bank

Colombia, Uzbekistan join BRICS nations' New Development Bank

Colombia, Uzbekistan join BRICS nations' New Development Bank

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy Shao Hong attended the inauguration ceremony of President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso in Brazzaville on Thursday at the latter's invitation.

On Friday, Sassou Nguesso met with Shao, also vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at the presidential palace in Brazzaville.

After conveying cordial greetings and best wishes from Xi to Sassou Nguesso, Shao said that friendship between China and the Republic of the Congo enjoys a long history and has grown stronger over time.

China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and is willing to work with the Congolese side to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and fulfill their responsibilities as co-chairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to lead the development of China-Africa relations and strengthen solidarity and coordination among the Global South, Shao said.

Sassou Nguesso asked Shao to convey his sincere greetings to Xi and thanked the Chinese president for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony.

He spoke highly of the bilateral relations, stressing that the Congolese side cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries and is willing to deepen friendly cooperation with China in various fields, strengthen communication and coordination on international hotspot issues, and further advance the building of a high-level community with a shared future between the two countries.

Chinese envoy attends Congo-Brazzaville president's inauguration