Vladimir Putin has proclaimed the start of a new “world order” as his allies rushed to sign up to a Kremlin-led economic club at a summit in Russia.
The Russian president will more than double the size of the Brics bloc by the time he leaves Kazan, in central Russia, on Thursday evening, creating an economic bloc to challenge the West.
“The process of forming a multipolar world order is underway, a dynamic and irreversible process,” Putin said on Wednesday on the second day of the three-day summit, which will expand the Brics grouping to up to 22 members.
On Tuesday, Putin held bilateral meetings with visiting foreign leaders and hosted an informal dinner followed by a concert in Kazan’s ornate 19th-century town hall.
Police had flanked roads through the city centre and blocked off streets as Putin dined with Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, as well as the leaders of Iran, India, South Africa, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia and Egypt.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian president, cancelled his trip to Russia after injuring his head in a fall.