March 15–17, the BRICS+ Association of Cities and Municipalities held a series of events in the Republic of India. On its sidelines meeting of the Association’s Presidium took place. The session was moderated by the Honorary Chairman of the Association, Mayor of Kazan, Mr. Ilsur Metshin.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ilsur Metshin thanked the participants for the opportunity to hold a dialogue in India and noted the symbolic significance of a gathering that brought together representatives of cities from different countries, cultures, and climatic zones in pursuit of a common goal: to make cities better, cleaner, safer, and more sustainable.
During the meeting, particular attention was paid to the Association’s role as a unique international platform fostering the development of local authorities and facilitating the exchange of best practices in the areas of sustainable development, architecture, digitalization, social policy, and intercultural dialogue. Since the previous General Assembly in Brazil, the Association has significantly strengthened its position: specialized committees are now operational, the membership has expanded, its regulatory framework has been updated, and the official website is being actively developed.
The Russian delegation at the event was represented by Ms. Irina Guseva, Co-Chair of the All-Russian Association for the Development of Local Self-Government and member of the Presidium of the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation. She emphasized the importance of the joint events held during Russia’s BRICS chairmanship, including the International BRICS Municipal Forum in St. Petersburg and the “Big Solutions for the Small Motherland” forum-exhibition at the Senezh Management Workshop.
Mr. Eduardo Tadeu, Executive Director of the Brazilian Association of Municipalities, presenting the report on the Association’s activities during Brazil’s term as chair on behalf of the current Chairman, Mr. Washington Quaquá, underscored that over the past year, substantial progress had been made in strengthening dialogue with governments, international partners, and civil society platforms. A key achievement was signing of an agreement between the Association and the World Organization «United Cities and Local Governments» (UCLG), which opened new opportunities for integrating the BRICS municipal platform into global networks of local authorities.
Mr. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Executive President of UCLG, in his address confirmed his commitment to further deepening cooperation and noted the growing role of cities as active participants in international relations.
During the discussion on practical challenges facing modern cities, Ilsur Metshin shared Kazan’s experience in addressing issues such as snow removal, the growing volume of solid municipal waste, the deterioration of water supply and sanitation networks, and high levels of motorization. He emphasized that adaptability — the capacity to respond swiftly to challenges and find effective solutions—has become a key factor in ensuring the resilience of cities in an era of global change.
Cllr Bheke Stofile, President of the South African Local Government Association, who led a delegation of five South African cities, reaffirmed his unwavering support for the Association’s activities.
Ethiopia was represented at the event by Mr. Andualem Tenaw Habtie, Director General of the Ethiopian Cities Association, who has been involved in the work of the Association since its inception. He shared key issues of concern to the mayors of Ethiopian cities.
A significant topic of the meeting was the development of youth initiatives. Mr. Ilsur Metshin spoke about the first BRICS Youth Festival, held in Kazan in September 2025, which brought together 150 talented young people from 35 municipalities in 13 countries. Inspired by the festival’s success, the Honorary Chairman proposed making it an annual event to be held in different countries, calling on the Association’s member cities to take up the baton.
In addition, an initiative was announced to establish a BRICS Student Council, designed to bring together young activists and student government leaders to promote youth policy at the international level and nurture future leaders for the sustainable development of the BRICS nations.
Participants expressed grave concern over the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. On behalf of the participants, Honorary Chairman of the Association expressed solidarity with Iranian colleagues.
A key outcome of the meeting was the expansion of the Association’s membership. The following were officially admitted as members:
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Gorodetsky Municipal District of Nizhny Novgorod Region (Russian Federation);
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Municipal Formation of the City of Krasnodar (Russian Federation);
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City of Nizhnekamsk, Nizhnekamsky Municipal District of the Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation);
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City of Ramsar (Islamic Republic of Iran);
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Urban Okrug of Urai, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra (Russian Federation);
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Ethiopian Cities Association (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia);
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Brazilian Association of Municipalities (Federative Republic of Brazil);
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All India Institute of Local Self-Government (Republic of India).
The admission of these new members underscores the growing authority of the Association as a key international platform for cooperation among local authorities.
During the meeting, participants also discussed the 2027 action plan, identifying priority areas of work, including the convening of thematic committee meetings, the implementation of joint projects in the field of sustainable urban development, and the further advancement of youth initiatives.
In closing, the meeting highlighted the importance of further strengthening cooperation within the Association, holding thematic committee sessions, and pursuing joint initiatives aimed at the sustainable development of its member cities.
