MENA Newswire News Desk: The BRICS+ Information and Cultural Media Centre was officially inaugurated in Moscow on October 15, 2024. The event, hosted by the All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature named after M. I. Rudomino and the TV BRICS International Media Network, is part of an initiative to enhance humanitarian cooperation among BRICS+ nations, with a focus on promoting culture, science, and education.
The launch was marked by the plenary session of the International Conference titled “Humanitarian Foundations of the BRICS+ Dialogue: The Role of Media in Strengthening Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Science, and Education.” Pavel Kuzmin, Director-General of the Library for Foreign Literature, outlined the centre’s goals, emphasizing the importance of providing reliable, verified literature to help readers form independent perspectives. “We will provide our readers with reliable, verified literature that will allow them to make their own decisions. We won’t draw conclusions or provide hints for readers, but we will help them to develop their own positions,” Kuzmin explained during his address.
TV BRICS CEO, Janna Tolstikova, expressed optimism about the Centre becoming a global hub for journalists. Tolstikova highlighted the inauguration as a significant step in enhancing cultural cooperation within BRICS+ nations, referring to it as a platform for expanding media collaboration. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, attended the event and noted the media centre’s role in advancing humanitarian cooperation among BRICS+ countries. “I believe this platform will become a vibrant hub for disseminating information. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we will actively support its work, cooperate, offer our agenda, and, of course, respond to the agenda generated here,” Zakharova said.
Delegates from various countries, including Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, China, Cuba, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Ethiopia, and South Africa, attended the event. Representatives from government bodies, diplomatic missions, media outlets, and public organizations were also present. A panel discussion titled “Intercultural Dialogue in the 21st Century: New Ways to Promote a Unifying Agenda Through Media” followed the inauguration.
Ksenia Komissarova, Editor-in-Chief of TV BRICS, moderated the session, which featured media partners such as Admasu Damtew, CEO of Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC), who spoke on cultural exchange opportunities. “TV BRICS serves as a launching point for taking our content for international audits. This content helps promote our national landmarks and historical heritage through TV BRICS,” Damtew stated.
German Ferras Alvarez, Head Correspondent for Prensa Latina in Moscow, and Ali Cura, Anadolu Agency Moscow Bureau Chief, also participated, stressing the significance of media partnerships and the role of cultural diplomacy in fostering collaboration. The BRICS+ Media Centre, established to serve as a permanent institution at the Library for Foreign Literature, will host press conferences, seminars, film screenings, and other events aimed at promoting informational, cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation among BRICS+ member states.