BRICS ready for closer ties

President Xi says the far-reaching cooperation of 5 members is set to enter second 'golden decade'

The BRICS cooperation will usher in its second "golden decade" as long as the five members make joint efforts for closer ties with the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win, President Xi Jinping said on July 28.

Xi made the remarks while meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with heads of the delegations for the 7th Meeting of BRICS High Representatives for Security Issues. During the two-day meeting, which ended on July 28, the five countries-Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - reached consensus on many things, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

South Africa's Minister of State Security David Mahlobo, Minister Sergio Etchegoyen of the Office of Institutional Security of the Presidency of Brazil, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev of the Russian Federation and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval of India attended the meeting. State Councilor Yang Jiechi hosted it.

The president offered his congratulations on the success of the meeting, saying it has made important political preparation for the BRICS summit to be held in Xiamen, Fujian province, from September 3 to 5.

Given the common wishes of BRICS peoples to boost exchanges and communication, the five countries should push forward economic and financial cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and security coordination at the same time, Xi said, adding that only through such efforts will BRICS cooperation last long and remain stable.

China calls for joint efforts of the international community to push the global economy onto the path of sustainable development, promote economic globalization to develop in a fair, inclusive and sustainable direction, and resolve global issues including terrorism through development, Xi said. The BRICS countries work together for common interests and goals, he added.

Noting that BRICS cooperation has existed for 10 years, Xi said the cooperation has crossed the longest geographic distance of the world, crossed different development paths and social systems, and gathered the five countries' resolution and moves to seek stability, development and improvement of people's livelihood.

The enhanced cooperation among BRICS members has not only maintained and expanded the five countries' interests, but has also provided meaningful exploration of the establishment of a new type of international relations, Xi said.

The senior officials of the BRICS countries said they extended their state leaders' sincere wishes to the Chinese president. They expressed willingness to enhance cooperation to deal with such challenges as anti-globalization and terrorism in economic and security areas, and to expand the influence of BRICS countries in international affairs.

anbaijia@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/04/2017 page15)