Meeting in New Delhi at the end of March, the leaders of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) expressed mutual cordiality and warmth while voicing increasing concern at faltering global recovery made more complex by the euro-zone situation.The BRICS account for 43% of the world’s population and combine interests from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America giving their discussions a  transcontinental dimension. They are concerned over the current global economic situation. While the BRICS recovered relatively quickly from the global crisis, growth prospects worldwide have again been dampened by market instability especially in the euro zone. The build-up of sovereign debt and concerns over medium to long-term fiscal adjustment in advanced countries are creating an uncertain environment for global growth. Further, excessive liquidity from the aggressive policy actions taken by central banks to stabilize their domestic economies have been spilling over into emerging market economies, fostering excessive volatility in capital flows and commodity prices.

On March 28-29, Dmitry Medvedev will take part in a meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which will be held in New Delhi.

In the span of a few days, the Chinese governmentelucidated its thoughts on the past year, the coming trends, and the future of its country and its relations with the world. This began with a Report by Premier Wen Jiabao to the Eleventh National People's Congress on the Work of the Government. It was then followed up by a press conference on China's Foreign Policy and External Relations by Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. The following summarizes the key points made by the Chinese government in terms of international affairs.

Click here to read full text on DiploWorld

The Russian Festival in London which mutated from being a celebration of Old New Year to Malenitsa was blessed this year by bright sunshine which brought thousands onto Trafalgar Square but please, no politics and white ribbons which have become the symbol of anti-Putin protests back in Moscow.