Addis Ababa, July 7, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s participation at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro has been described as broadly successful by Minister of Government Communication Services, Legesse Tulu (PhD), who said the event served as an important platform to promote the country’s strategic priorities and advance cooperation with Global South partners.
According to Legesse, the Ethiopian delegation, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), used the summit to reinforce Ethiopia’s foreign policy priorities, including expanding bilateral partnerships, advocating for reform of international institutions, and strengthening South–South cooperation.
He said that a number of side engagements were held to consolidate diplomatic and development ties with fellow BRICS and partner countries.
Reflecting on the Prime Minister’s address at the plenary session on global peace, security, and governance, the Minister noted that Ethiopia underscored the urgent need for more inclusive multilateral institutions. Africa’s voice, he said, must be fully represented in global decision-making platforms in order to ensure fairness and legitimacy in international affairs.
Legesse highlighted that Ethiopia’s long-standing civilizational heritage, cultural diversity, and pan-African commitment were presented as a foundation for collective progress.
He added that the country reaffirmed its strong belief in solidarity among nations of the Global South and the importance of joint efforts to drive inclusive social and economic development.
The summit also covered a range of economic and financial issues, including proposals to strengthen the BRICS New Development Bank and establish national development funds.
Legesse stated that Ethiopia views these mechanisms as critical to reducing dependency on inequitable global credit systems and enabling fairer access to finance for countries in the Global South.
Digital governance and artificial intelligence featured prominently on the agenda, and Ethiopia reiterated its position that shared global frameworks are needed to maximize the benefits of digital technologies while managing associated risks.
Legesse noted that Ethiopia is already making substantial efforts in this area under its Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy and will continue enhancing collaboration with partners to expand digital inclusion and infrastructure.
In discussions on climate change, the Minister said Ethiopia presented itself as a country translating vision into action.
He cited the Green Legacy Initiative, through which more than 40 billion trees have been planted, as a concrete example of environmental leadership that also creates employment and promotes climate resilience.
Overall, Legesse concluded that Ethiopia’s participation in the 17th BRICS Summit was not merely symbolic but marked by meaningful engagement and alignment with the broader summit theme — “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”
He emphasized that the country remains committed to contributing to a more just and inclusive international order.
The BRICS Summit, which ran from July 6–7, brought together leaders and representatives from member states and partners, including Ethiopia, to deliberate on key global issues ranging from multilateral reform and economic resilience to digital transformation, climate action, and public health.