South Africa has committed to using its Chairship of the BRICS in 2018 to strategically plan towards the goals of the next decade of BRICS cooperation and has further committed to aligning its Chairship in 2018 with that of China’s in 2017 in an effort to ensure maximum synergy and continuity for BRICS over the two years. South Africa has identified the following as its priorities for 2018: 1. Establishment of a Virtual Vaccine Research Platform for Collaboration with BRICS vaccine innovation and development partners 2. Establishment of a BRICS Gender and Women’s Forum 3. Establishment of a Working Group on Peacekeeping and 4. Leveraging the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership as linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution
