President urges BRICS members to be more alert for external interference

President Xi Jinping reiterated the need on Thursday to uphold multilateralism in a globalized world, and said international affairs should be addressed through extensive consultations rather than decided by one country or a few.

Xi made the remarks while addressing the closed-door session of the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasilia, Brazil, attended by leaders of the BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Xi said that no country is born to be dominant and no model is destined to be superior. The era of globalization should not see some people fighting against others, but should instead see all bringing benefits to all, he added.

Saying that maintaining stability is a prerequisite for achieving development and prosperity, Xi stressed that external intervention has intensified unrest in many developing countries and regions.

He urged BRICS countries to be more alert to external interference, enhance strategic communication, work together to deal with risks and challenges and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

Xi described the solidarity and cooperation of BRICS countries as a historical necessity, and said they conform to the trend of the development of human society and the evolution of the international situation, and have fundamentally changed the political and economic landscape of the world.

The summit was chaired by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also attended the event.

Leaders of the other four BRICS countries agreed that the rise of protectionism and unilateralism constitutes a threat to the sovereignty and security of all countries, and vowed to safeguard the fair, transparent and open multilateral trading system, and defend the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.

They also called for respect for every country's independently chosen development path, and opposed external intervention.

While addressing the plenary session of the summit on the same day, Xi called on BRICS nations to undertake their due obligations in practicing multilateralism.

Xi pointed out that the world is facing various challenges including the rise of protectionism and unilateralism; greater deficit of governance, development and trust, and growing uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the world economy.

A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is on the rise, and the unstoppable rise of emerging markets and developing countries has injected strong impetus into the reform of the global economic governance system, Xi said.

Faced with profound changes rarely seen in a century, major emerging markets should grasp the trend of the times, respond to the call of the people and strengthen cooperation for the well-being of the people and for the development of the world, Xi said.

Xi called on BRICS countries to work together to foster a secure environment of peace and stability, saying that the five BRICS members should safeguard peace and development for all, uphold fairness and justice and promote win-win results.

Xi proposed that BRICS countries pursue greater development through openness and innovation.

The five-member group should strive for more productive cooperation in such fields as trade and investment, digital economy and connectivity so as to achieve high-quality development, Xi said.

He called for the five countries to advocate extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance, and push for reform of the global economic governance system.

He reiterated that China will import more goods and services, ease market access for foreign investments and step up intellectual property protections amid the country's efforts to boost openness, Xi said.

China will continue to act in line with the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and will pursue open, green and clean cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi said.

"We will continue to follow a high-standard, people-centered, and sustainable approach to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with partner countries," he said.

China is committed to working with Africa for an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi said, adding that China will also pursue closer cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean in various areas and build a China-LAC community with a shared future.

Meanwhile, China strives for an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future that features openness and inclusiveness, innovation-driven growth, greater connectivity and mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi said.

"All in all, China will work with the rest of the international community toward the goal of building a new type of international relationship and of building a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.

A declaration of the summit issued on Thursday said the BRICS leaders remain committed to preserving and strengthening the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its center while recognizing the importance of necessary WTO reform.

The 12th BRICS Summit will be held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2020, according to the declaration.

Contact the writers at [email protected]