The International Energy Agency (IEA) along with six partner countries, which included Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa – known as the Brics countries – as well as Indonesia, issued a joint declaration to pursue closer cooperation with regard to global energy challenges.

The announcement on Wednesday represented the first time that the IEA and partner countries had publicly expressed interest in exploring the mutual benefits of adding a multilateral dimension to their already strong bilateral cooperation, the IEA said.

"As the global energy map is redrawn, the IEA’s 28 member countries face many of the same energy challenges, as key emerging economies, and we all share a common interest in building a secure, sustainable energy future. This is why the IEA has always attached such high importance to working with such dynamic countries, outside our membership, like Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa," IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven said.

She highlighted that over the past year the IEA had discussed with these partner countries ways in which it could build on its existing bilateral ties.

“The declaration we are unveiling today is a vital first step that can facilitate our shared consideration of new, broader approaches to cooperation, which better reflect today’s global energy challenges and opportunities," Van der Hoeven added.

She noted that further negotiations would be built on the declaration, which was agreed upon at the IEA Ministerial on November 19 and 20 in Paris, France.

“The association would provide an efficient, voluntary means to work together on areas of mutual interest, including increased information sharing on common energy challenges and best practices, energy security, the transparency and analysis of energy markets, energy technologies, energy efficiency and renewable energy,” Van der Hoeven said.

The declaration would also provide a common forum for regular dialogue between IEA member and partner countries through meetings of various IEA standing groups and committees as well as future Ministerial meetings.