Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a meeting with his counterparts Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud from Saudi Arabia and Ali Sabri from Sri Lanka on the sidelines of a meeting of the BRICS Council of Foreign Ministers in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.

Lavrov emphasised that the BRICS Ministerial Council meeting provided 'an opportunity to touch base' on bilateral relations with Sri Lanka.

"We appreciate your participation in tomorrow's meeting in the BRICS Plus format. And tonight we have an opportunity to touch base on our bilateral relations, which I think would be useful," he said at the meeting with Ali Sabri.

During the meeting with Lavrov, the Saudi foreign minister thanked the Russian delegation for the invitation and expressed his admiration by Nizhny Novgorod.

"I want to thank you for having it here because it's a beautiful city. I've never, of course, met it. <...> I'm glad that we get to see a bit more of Russia," Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said.

The BRICS Ministerial Council meeting is scheduled for June 10-11.

According to the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the meeting will focus on the prospects of multifaceted cooperation during Russia's BRICS chairmanship in three main areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and humanitarian ties.

Foreign ministers of the countries of the SCO, ASEAN, the Indian Ocean Rim Association For Regional Co-Operation, the African Union, the League of Arab States and other organisations will also take part in an extended session on the sidelines of the event.

Since January 1, 2024, Russia has held the BRICS chairmanship, and during this period, several countries, including Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt, have joined the organisation.