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Mr Chairperson, colleagues,

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I would like to begin, just as the other heads of BRICS states did,

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by greeting the heads of state and government from Egypt, Guinea,

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Tajikistan, Thailand and Mexico, who are attending our meeting today.

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It has become a good tradition to hold outreach meetings 

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on the sidelines of BRICS summits.

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They help our countries develop cooperation with various 

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agencies and regional organisations.

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During our previous summits, we had fruitful meetings with leaders from 

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the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union,

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the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,

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the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic 

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Cooperation, the African Union and the New Partnership 

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for Africa’s Development.

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This year we invited leaders from several emerging market 

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countries to the Xiamen summit.

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These countries are our natural allies and promising business partners,

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therefore it is logical that BRICS is developing close socioeconomic 

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cooperation with them and has expressed readiness to allign our 

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positions on the international stage.

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Colleagues, Russia has been working actively to implement the 2030 

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Agenda for Sustainable Development, as it has been said today.

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We cooperate with international organisations within the UN network 

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to jointly implement projects that are aimed, in particular,

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at attaining food security, modernising the industrial and transport 

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infrastructure and resolving environmental issues.

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Thus, in 2016, Russia allocated $1.

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16 billion towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

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We have written off over $20 billion of African countries’ debts 

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through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.

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Russia provides support to the World Food Programme and is the fifth 

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largest contributor to the UNIDO Industrial Development Fund.

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I would like to point out that Russia’s position of principle is that 

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assistance to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals must 

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not be conditioned by any political requirements or terms,

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as this would have a negative impact on the efforts to achieve the main 

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goals, namely eradicate poverty and serious imbalances 

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in the development of regions and states,

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as well as provide debt relief to the developing countries.

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Development goals are directly linked to one more serious international 

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issue, namely, global climate change.

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I would like to remind you that Russia has implemented all of its 

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obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.

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Between 1991 and 2012, we have not just prevented the growth 

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of greenhouse emissions but have reduced them by 40 billion tonnes.

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We have been working consistently to prepare the ratification 

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of the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.

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Russia’s extensive contribution will largely compensate for the growth 

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of emissions in other countries and regions.

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I would like to add that Russia has started drafting a long-term 

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low-emission development strategy and plan on climate change 

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mitigation, as per the Paris Agreement.

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Colleagues, in conclusion I would like to express confidence that our 

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meeting today will promote a better understanding and respect 

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for the interests of each other and will help boost our multifaceted 

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cooperation and dialogue between our nations.

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Thank you for your attention.