MOSCOW/SOCHI, Sept 7 (Bernama-Sputnik) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the participants of the 13th BRICS Trade Union Forum and expressed confidence that their initiatives would help strengthen the positions of the BRICS countries in the global economy, according to a telegram published by the Kremlin on Saturday.
More than 50 people are taking part in the event. The programme includes several sessions, where each country will present national reports sharing their experiences and initiatives for uniting trade unions, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
"Given the recent expansion of the BRICS association with the accession of a group of countries with dynamically developing economies, your activities are taking on a new scale… I am confident that you will hold meaningful and constructive discussions, and that your proposals and initiatives will be implemented in practice and will contribute to the strengthening of the positions of the BRICS countries in the global economy," the telegram read.
Putin said the goals of the forum aligned with Russia's BRICS presidency agenda. The Russian leader added that ambitious socioeconomic and humanitarian development tasks could only be fully met through systematic approaches to employment, rights protection, creative potential and improvement of professional skills of citizens.
The 13th BRICS Trade Union Forum is being held in Russia's Sochi from Sept 7 to 8.
-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK