Malaysia applies for joining BRICS

HONG KONG. July 29 (Interfax) - Malaysia has applied for joining BRICS, the Indonesian news agency Bernama said.

"Malaysia has sent a letter of application to join the (BRICS) organization to Russia as the BRICS chairman, besides expressing openness to participate as a member country or strategic partner," Bernama quoted Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday.

Ibrahim said the issue topped the agenda of his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur.

The Malaysian government expressed the wish to join BRICS in a statement to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in mid-June, Bernama said.