INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for a strengthening of ties with the influential club of BRICS emerging economies, amid
unprecedented Western sanctions imposed over Ukraine."Businessmen of our countries are forced to develop their business under difficult
conditions where Western partners neglect the basic principles of market economy, free trade, as well as the inviolability of private
property," Putin told a BRICS business forum via video link.On the eve of a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) virtual
and basic economic logic."He said Russia is "actively redirecting its trade flows and external economic contacts towards reliable
international partners, above all the BRICS countries."The barrage of Western sanctions against Moscow has pushed Putin to seek new markets
and strengthen ties with countries in Africa and Asia.Putin said that discussions were ongoing on the "opening of Indian chain stores in
Russia, increasing the share of Chinese automobiles" on the Russian market
developing "alternative international transfer mechanisms" with BRICS partners and an "international reserve currency" to reduce dependence
on the dollar and euro, Putin added.
