AFP, Rio De Janeiro

Brazil, which chairs the 11-nation BRICS grouping that also includes Russia and China, called for closer cooperation as the world deals with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and trade wars under US President Donald Trump.

“We advocate diplomacy instead of confrontation, and cooperation instead of unilateralism,” Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told the BRICS foreign ministers in Rio.

“The conflict in Ukraine continues to have a severe humanitarian impact, highlighting the urgent need for a diplomatic solution,” he added.

Ministers from the bloc -- which also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates -- met to hone their agenda ahead of a leaders’ summit on July 6 and 7.

Vieira on Monday also called for a “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza.

“The resumption of Israeli bombings and the continuous obstruction of humanitarian aid are unacceptable,” he said.

The ministers was expected to issue a final joint statement yesterday in which they will call for respect for multilateralism and international market rules.

BRICS has expanded significantly since its 2009 inception as a group of four powers -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- seeking an alternative platform to Western-led international organisations such as the G7.

It now makes up nearly half of the world’s population, 39 percent of global GDP and weighs in on issues from Ukraine to Gaza to global trade.

A BRICS challenge to the hegemony of the dollar was expected to feature high on the agenda being prepared for July.