Syrian Finance Minister, Kanaan Yaghi, told Russian news outlet Sputnik on 15 June that Damascus has plans to apply to join both the BRICS+ group of emerging economies and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
“Syria intends to apply for membership” in both organizations, the minister said, adding that it is also planning to open a branch of Russia’s Sberbank in the country.
Syria has long been an admirer of the concept behind the BRICS+ group, which represents cooperation and mutual prosperity between developing countries, particularly those targeted by western sanctions.
Syrian presidential adviser Bouthaina Shaaban said in 2013: "Praise be to God, there are countries like those of the BRICS group, that are confronting the international community with logic … The BRICS countries have been adopting a very honest and balanced position."