JAKARTA – Indonesia has expressed its desire to join the BRICS group of major emerging economies, which accounts for 35 percent of global economic output, as a means to strengthen emerging countries, its foreign ministry said in a statement.

As BRICS world leaders convened in the Russian city of Kazan for a summit this week, Indonesia's foreign ministry said late on Thursday that the process of joining the group has begun.

"Indonesia joining BRICS is a manifestation of its independent-active foreign policy," said Sugiono, the newly appointed foreign minister, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "That does not mean we join a certain bloc, but we actively participate in every forum."

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Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, holds a non-aligned foreign policy.

President Prabowo Subianto, who took office on Sunday, has stressed repeatedly that he will befriend all countries and that Indonesia will not be joining any military bloc.

BRICS suits Prabowo's main government programs "especially with regards to food and energy security, poverty eradication, and the advancement of human resources", Sugiono said, adding that Indonesia sees the group as a "vehicle" to further the interests of the global south.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said more than 30 countries had expressed a desire to join the BRICS.

Current members include Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

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In a bid to attract more investment and trade deals from its members, Indonesia said earlier this year before Prabowo took office that it aims to complete the accession to become the member of Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development within two to three years.