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MOSCOW. – Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified an accord Saturday to set up a $100 billion reserve fund for the BRICS – the five leading emerging economies that include Russia, China, Brazil, India and South Africa. Moscow is expected to contribute $18 billion to the reserve, well behind the $41 billion China has promised to pour into the fund that was set up after an agreement signed in July 2014 in Brazil.

The emerging economies also plan to form their own international bank based in Shanghai to challenge Western dominance over international money markets.

“The accord on the creation of a common reserve fund for BRICS countries has been ratified,” a document from the Kremlin quoted by RIA Novosti news agency said. The fund is meant to shield the BRICS against “short-term liquidity pres- sures”. – AFP.