More than 500 mayors, vice-mayors, and leaders of municipal associations gathered on May 27 in the city of Marica, Brazil, to participate in the meeting of the General Assembly of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities. They represent 24 countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, including new BRICS members Iran and Ethiopia, and others.
Ilsur Metshin, Chairman of the Association, Mayor of Kazan, opened the meeting. He stressed that last year had shown the importance of the BRICS role on the global agenda, in addressing pressing worldwide and regional issues, and in deepening multifaceted cooperation between states in all major areas of activity.
President of the Pereira Passos Municipal Institute of Urban Planning in Rio de Janeiro, Elias Marco Khalil Jabbour (Brazil), Brazil’s national representative to the United Nations Human Settlements Program Rayne Michelli Ferretti Moraes (Brazil), Executive Secretary of the Organization «Local Authorities for Sustainable Development» (ICLEI) Rodrigo Perpetuo, Brazilian Sous-Sherpa in BRICS Paula Barboza, President of the National Front of Mayors of Brazil, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Cobija, President of FLACMA and the Association of Municipalities of Bolivia Ana Lucia Reis Melena, Secretary General of the World Organization «United Cities and Local Governments» Emilia Saiz, Mayor of Marica and President of the Brazilian Association of Municipalities Washington Quaqua, also delivered welcoming remarks at the opening of the General Assembly.
Before the official opening of the General Assembly, a number of thematic sessions and meetings of relevant committees were held.
The General Assembly approved the Association’s Charter, elected the Presidium and Chairman, discussed topical issues at thematic sessions and preparations for the BRICS Summit.
Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan, has been elected Honorary Chairman of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities. Mayor of the Brazilian city of Marica, President of the Brazilian Association of Municipalities, Washington Quaqua, was elected to the position of Chairman of the Association.
The General Assembly approved the Presidium, which included one representative from seven countries each. From India — Mayor of Indore Pushyamitra Bhargav, from Iran — Deputy Mayor of Tehran for International Relations Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, from China — Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Shen Xin, from Russia — Mayor of Ufa Ratmir Mavliev, from Ethiopia — Mayor of Shaggar Teshome Adugna, from South Africa — President of the South African Local Government Association Bheke Stofile and from Brazil – Chairman Washington Quaqua. Arseny Karyakin, Head of the International Relations Department, Kazan City Council, was elected Secretary General.
The General Assembly of the Association is being held on the eve of the XVII BRICS Summit, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. The Assembly participants approved Joint Statement that will be submitted to the BRICS Summit on behalf of the cities. It is said that cities and municipalities are centers of innovative public administration, places where breakthrough solutions are created, where international agendas are transformed into concrete actions. The document also indicates the creation of direct international investment networks for local authorities. These points will be presented at the BRICS Summit in July and may be included in the final Declaration of the Summit.
