New opportunities for cooperation between countries and municipalities within BRICS+ were discussed at Kazan Federal University (KFU).
On November 6-11, 2025, the 1st International Scientific Conference «Russia and Brazil in BRICS+: Opportunities and Challenges in a Changing World» was successfully held at Kazan Federal University (Russia) and at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte (Brazil). The event brought together diplomats, scientists, and students from both countries, becoming an important platform for discussing the role of BRICS in shaping a multipolar world.
The conference was organized by the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies of KFU, the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, and the Russia-Latin America Observatory (RUSLAT). The event was moderated by Valdir Bezerra, a researcher at the BRICS Study Group at the University of São Paulo (GEBRICS, Brazil), and Lilia Ilikova, Associate Professor at the Department of Regional Studies and Digital Humanities at KFU.
The Honorary Chairman of the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities, Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. He emphasized the continuity in cooperation between Russia and Brazil, especially in the context of the transition of the BRICS presidency: «The Russian phase expanded the format of the association and strengthened practical interaction. Brazil is confidently continuing this work». Ilsur Metshin also highlighted the key role of universities in international relations, citing the partnership between KFU and the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais as an example: «It is in universities the ideas that change reality are born.»
Following the opening ceremony on November 6 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, two discussion panels were held: «The Role of BRICS in the Global Cooperation» and «BRICS Expansion and the Future in a Multipolar World.» Professors and students examined the role of BRICS in the new global architecture. Conference participants noted that the expansion of the association not only strengthens its geopolitical influence but also marks a shift towards a more just international system where developing countries gain a greater voice in solving global problems.
The very next day, on November 7, Kazan Federal University took up the baton, hosting a plenary session that included three discussion panels: «Brazil and Russia in BRICS+: Society and Culture in a Changing World», «Brazil-Russia Relations within BRICS after 2006», and «BRICS+ Economic Cooperation: Opportunities in Latin America.»
The plenary session was opened by top officials from KFU and partner organizations: Vice-Rector for Comprehensive Security of KFU Rishat Guzeyrov, Deputy Director for Research at the Institute of International Relations, History and Oriental Studies of KFU Vadim Kozlov, General Director of the National Committee for Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries (Moscow) Tatiana Mashkova, and Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU) Sergey Andryushin.
Guests of the meeting included the Rector of PUC Minas Fernando Santos, Honorary Consul of Russian Federation in Brazil Carolina Bernardes, representatives from the university of Rio de Janeiro and the GEBRICS research group from the University of São Paulo, the RUSLAT research center, as well as Russian colleagues from SPbSU, the Center for Global Studies and International Relations of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Moscow), the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow), and others.
The scientific program of the conference was intensive and diverse. Leading experts in the development of international relations within BRICS+ presented reports. Issues discussed included university cooperation in the era of the digital revolution, Russia’s role in positioning BRICS as a global player, new horizons for humanitarian cooperation, and the Brazilian view on the development of the organization. Several reports were dedicated to Indian-Brazilian relations and cultural diplomacy as a pillar of BRICS.
In special sessions on November 7 and 11, master’s students of the «BRICS: Development Strategies» program at KFU presented their vision on current issues: from grain diplomacy and currency cooperation to the analysis of the soft power of Russia and Brazil, sustainable management of natural resources, and linguistic mediation. Such variety of topics demonstrated the deep interest of the younger generation in the current BRICS agenda and their readiness to offer fresh, non-standard solutions.
The conference in Kazan clearly demonstrated that the academic dialogue between Russia and Brazil is reaching a new level. The joint work of scientists and youth not only enriches the scientific agenda but also strengthens the strategic partnership within BRICS+, making a significant contribution to building a just and multipolar world.
Photo: Kazan Federal University
