This is the first BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, The Hindu newspaper stated.

The grouping emerges as a valuable platform for an isolated Russia that is facing crippling sanctions from the West, the newspaper noted.

China will host the summit next month as the bloc’s chair for this year.

The summit, as well as Thursday’s meeting to be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, will include other emerging countries as part of the “Brics Plus” mechanism, aimed at growing the presence of the five-member grouping. ef/iff/mgt/abm