Russia’s Putin says BRICS unified currency is premature

MOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the introduction of a unified currency for the BRICS group was premature for now as it would require a high level of integration among member countries.

Putin said BRICS countries should act gradually, adding that Russia intended to strengthen the new BRICS bank.

Putin is keen to build up BRICS – which has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates as well as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – as a powerful counterweight to the West in global politics and trade. (Reporting by Reuters Editing by Gareth Jones)

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