Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stated that Indonesia is still studying and weighing whether or not to join the BRICS group of developing nations, which currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

"We don't want to rush," he informed after attending the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, according to a video statement released by the Presidential Secretariat. The summit was held from August 22–24, 2023.

Indonesia has good relations with the BRICS countries, especially in the economic sector, he noted.

Regarding the process of joining BRICS, Jokowi said that Indonesia will first need to submit a letter of interest if it wants to become a member of the bloc.

However, it has not submitted such a letter yet.

While delivering his remarks at the BRICS Summit, to which he was invited to attend, Jokowi said that the current global economic order is highly unfair, characterized by a widening development gap and an increasing number of poor and hungry people.

He urged developing countries to advocate for equal and inclusive cooperation. BRICS can be at the forefront of fighting for just development and reforming world governance to make it fairer.

He also stressed that developing countries must unite to fight for their rights. Trade discrimination must be rejected, and the downstream industry must not be hindered, he added.

BRICS had previously announced the inclusion of six new member countries: Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Indra Arief Pribadi
Editor: Anton Santoso
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