Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


BRICS Leaders Tackle Economy, Terrorism at India Summit

by VOA News

   The BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are
   hoping to boost trade and economic development as they meet for a
   summit in cybersecurity, counterterrorism and energy security in
   Benaulim, in the western Indian state of Goa, Saturday.

   Host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the other BRICS leaders
   - Russia's Vladimir Putin, China's Xi Jinping, Brazil's Michel Temer,
   and South Africa's Jacob Zuma - hope to cooperate on cybersecurity,
   counterterrorism and energy security.

   The five countries represent almost half the world's population and a
   quarter of the world's economy at a combined $16.6 trillion.

   Efforts to intertwine their economies more closely come at a time when
   the BRICS nations, once hailed as the engines of global growth, have
   been hit by a slowdown.

   Russia and Brazil are in recession, China's growth is down to its
   weakest in a quarter century, South Africa's economy has also
   contracted, and although India's economy has revived, the country is
   still struggling to increase investment and create jobs.

   Ahead of the BRICS summit, China proposed a free trade area among the
   group to advance commerce, but the idea has not found favor from the
   others who fear being swamped by Chinese goods.

   BRICS nations also face challenges in efforts to help the poor and
   protect the environment.

   Trade experts say to make progress, leaders at the BRICS summit will
   have to cut back on competition and increase cooperation in hopes to
   improve markets.

   While expanding trade ties may take time for these countries, experts
   say the group has some achievements to its credit on the economic
   front. To date, the group's biggest achievement has been setting up a
   BRICS bank to expand lending for infrastructure projects, initially
   within their countries.