President Xi Jinping called on Thursday for rallying the mighty forces of the Global South to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

He highlighted China's commitment to promoting common development with countries of the Global South and supporting them in joining BRICS, and said that China's modernization drive will provide development opportunities for the world.

Xi made the remarks when addressing the BRICS Plus leaders' dialogue in Kazan, Russia, which was chaired by President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the BRICS grouping.

Xi said that the collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive feature of the great transformation across the world, and the Global South countries marching together toward modernization is monumental in world history and unprecedented in human civilization.

While emphasizing the severe challenges that Global South countries are facing on the way to modernization, Xi underlined the need for them to make joint efforts to uphold peace for common security, reinvigorate development for common prosperity, and promote the harmony of various civilizations.

He called for strengthening global security governance to explore comprehensive solutions to hot spot issues.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, "we should promote early de-escalation to pave the way for political settlement", Xi said.

He also called for continuing to promote a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for reviving the two-state solution. "We must stop the flames of war from spreading in Lebanon and end the miserable sufferings in Palestine and Lebanon."

Xi underscored the need for Global South countries to play an active and leading role in global economic governance reform to make development the core of the international economic and trade agenda.

Since its inception three years ago, the China-proposed Global Development Initiative has helped make available nearly $20 billion in development funds and has launched more than 1,100 projects, Xi said. He also noted that the Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing Center of Excellence was recently established in Shanghai.

"China will also build a World Smart Customs Community Portal and a BRICS Customs Center of Excellence. We welcome active participation by all countries," he said.

To enhance communication and dialogue, "China will coordinate with others to form a Global South Think Tanks Alliance to promote people-to-people exchanges and experience-sharing in governance", Xi added.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as representatives from Brazil, India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia, also attended the meeting.

Leaders and representatives from 25 invited countries, along with leaders of international organizations, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, were also present at the dialogue.

Xi flew back to Beijing on Thursday.

Xi's remarks

? Peace and development still faces severe challenges, and the road to prosperity for the Global South will not be straight.

? The Global South emerges for development and prospers through development.

? Diversity of civilization is the innate quality of the world.

? No matter how the international landscape evolves, we in China will always keep the Global South in our heart, and maintain our roots in the Global South.

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