Russian BRICS Expert Council established at HSE University

The official presentation of the BRICS Russia Expert Council took place at HSE University on 16 February. The Council will provide informational, analyticalal and expert support for the Russia’s BRICS Chairship in 2024.

The BRICS Russia Expert Council was established on the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation on the basis of HSE University at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. The Council will be engaged in expert, analytical and scientific activities on topical issues of political, socio-economic, and humanitarian cooperation within the association.

Head of the BRICS Expert Council and Vice-Rector of HSE University Victoria Panova noted that this shows the high level of trust in HSE by Russia’s leadership. ‘Today HSE University is one of the leading Russian centres in international educational, scientific and expert cooperation,’ she said. ‘HSE University has a unique set of competencies in these areas, and our employees enjoy well-deserved reputation in their fields’.

Victoria Panova highlighted the primary role of experts in building effective cooperation among the association’s member countries.

‘2024 marked the start of a new chapter in the history of BRICS. Russia, as the inaugural chair of the expanded BRICS group, needs to ensure the smooth integration of the new member countries into the association’s work. BRICS is effectively developing the second track diplomacy, i.e. informal initiatives of academic, expert and civil communities that interact with government institutions. Since 2024 our Expert Council will be responsible for coordinating the BRICS expert track in Russia,’ she added.

This year the Council will hold a number of expert events to obtain recommendations on the development of comprehensive cooperation between the member countries for the leaders of BRICS. The main results of expert track cooperation will be presented at the BRICS Academic (22-24 May) and Civil (3-4 July) Forums, which will be held in Moscow.

The presentation of the BRICS Expert Council took place in February at HSE University as part of the strategic session titled ‘Russian 2024 BRICS Chairship: Role of the Expert Track’. Leading Russian experts and scientists from HSE University, IMEMO RAS, RANEPA, MGIMO, the Russian International Affairs Council, etc. all took part in its work. Lilia Rizvanova, head of BRICS Office (economic and humanitarian tracks), Foreign Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and Evgenia Drozhshchikh, Deputy Director of the Department for Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, spoke about the main priorities of the Russia’s BRICS Chairship.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.

Source: National Research University Higher School of Economics