MOSCOW -- BRICS is a unique and promising cooperation mechanism carrying both political and economic weight on the world stage, a Russian expert told Xinhua ahead of the group's summit in New Delhi.

BRICS, grouping Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has set a distinctive example of great powers rising with "soft power," said Boris Martynov, deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Latin America Institute.

"Their rise is not a result of war, colonial adventures," Martynov said, adding "they look for their place in the world's political stage which matches their potential and capabilities."

He said BRICS would enjoy rising prominence in the world political and economic arena, if everything went smoothly.

According to the International Monetary Fund, BRICS, with roughly more than 40 percent of the world's total population and a quarter of the land, is estimated to have a combined nominal GDP of 13.6 trillion U.S. dollars in 2011, accounting for 19.5 percent of the world's total production.

Martynov called on the five countries to bridge their differences and seek common ground to enhance effective cooperation.

"BRICS countries share the same strategic goal, that is to establish a multipolar system in a bid to resolve global issues in a better way," he said.

BRICS is playing a role in rebalancing global influence and exerting a positive effect on the world economy and politics, he said.

For Russia, BRICS is also of great importance as it provides political and economic support for other emerging countries, Martynov said.

The two-day summit is to kick off Wednesday under the theme of "BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity."

Martynov said the five national leaders at the summit would also confer on the current global situation and seek a unified stand on such issues as the Syria and Iran situations.

All BRICS countries share the stance that the international community should respect a country's sovereignty and territorial integrity and adhere to the principle of non-interference in domestic affairs, he said.