On June 21, 2024, the Association of Cities and Municipalities of the BRICS Countries was established in Kazan city in Russia. The founding meeting took place the day after the closing ceremony of the 2024 BRICS Games in Kazan, where more than 80 countries took part. The initiator of the Association meeting was the Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin. The new structure was created in order to “intensify cooperation in the economy, culture, education and ecology,” as well as become “an important source of useful knowledge and an incentive for studying and implementing experience,” Metshin said.
The event was attended by more than 200 mayors, vice-mayors and leaders of associations of municipalities not only from the BRICS countries, but also from partner countries: China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Türkiye, Iran, Ethiopia, Argentina, Chile, Morocco, Indonesia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Mexico. In total, more than 2.5 million people live in all municipalities of these countries. Following the meeting, the members of the association adopted a declaration of the organization and elected the mayor of Kazan as the Chairman of the association for the period of its formation, who hospitably received his colleagues in his city. It is proposed to locate the headquarters of the Association in Kazan in Dubai.
Objectives of the Association
The main task of the association is the sustainable development of cities in the participating countries, based on strengthening socio-economic cooperation and exchange of experience in a number of areas. “Our goal is to promote the sustainable development of our cities and municipalities, ensuring the well-being and prosperity of people. We strive to strengthen socio-economic cooperation, exchange experience and transfer best practices in the field of city management. We reaffirm our intention to develop partnerships between the cities and municipalities of our countries, based on mutual respect, trust and understanding,” the declaration says.
Representatives of the BRICS countries supported the creation of a new Association. The document also states the participants’ willingness to work together to solve common problems, such as environmental sustainability, cultural exchange, infrastructural development, social protection, and exchange best practices. “Today we stand on the threshold of creating a new history, on the threshold of creating an association that will strengthen the influence of BRICS and the association’s partners and will expand the capabilities of cities and municipalities. We have our own colossal heritage and rich experience in solving current urban problems. And today the time has come for more active interaction,” Ilsur Metshin addressed the participants.
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş had suggestions and comments regarding the adopted declaration. He said that if certain amendments are not made to the declaration, it will contradict Turkish laws. So far, he has not specified exactly what proposals he wants to make. At the last meeting, the declaration was adopted in its original form, but at the next meeting, the amendments proposed by Türkiye will be adopted. Ilsur Metshin replied that Türkiye will be able to join the organization after resolving controversial issues. “I propose to support the current declaration. And we will be happy to accept the additions our Turkish colleagues want to make,” he added.
The importance of organizing in times of geopolitical instability
In the current situation of geopolitical instability, the formation of a new organization based on the proven BRICS+ can not only work in the context of mutual socio-economic development, but also give impetus to resolving common problems of all cities participating in the Association happening because of globalization. Bernadia Iravati Tjandradevi, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific branch of the United Cities and Local Governments World Organization, said that the concept should be built on the equality of all cities. She proposed jointly confronting environmental and climate problems, creating infrastructure and making the BRICS+ association inclusive.
The mayor of the Turkish capital Ankara, Mansur Yavaş, spoke about the existing problems of lack of clean water and hunger in the Turkish capital. The mayor of Kazan, as well as other Russian officials, expressed their readiness to respond to the problems of their colleagues in other countries. Speaker of the Moscow City Duma Alexey Shaposhnikov said that the Russian capital is ready to share “experience and constructive solutions” in those areas where it is a “recognized world leader,” which includes improving city infrastructure, developing “smart city” services, digitalizing the public administration system and much more.
The Turkish capital can also share experience with Russia in areas where Ankara is an advanced city. Ankara is one of the leaders in the aerospace industry, the weapons industry, and also has large capacities in the automotive industry and a developed public transport infrastructure. In these areas, the capitals of Russia and Türkiye, as well as other cities of the two countries, can give each other a lot, now continuously cooperating not only at the level of state interaction, but also at the level of municipalities. Many years of joint work between Türkiye and Russia looks like a fundamental platform for an example of mutually beneficial friendly relations.