Leaders of the BRICS countries are convening for their first face-to-face summit in the Russian city of Kazan following the group's historic expansion from five to ten members in January.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazan on Tuesday for the 16th BRICS Summit. During the summit, Xi will engage with other leaders to discuss practical cooperation and the development of the BRICS mechanism for emerging economies, among other key topics.
China has consistently been a staunch supporter and active participant in the BRICS cooperation mechanism, advocating for win-win cooperation among members and promoting the values of openness and inclusiveness.
Win-win CooperationSince its inception, BRICS has aimed for win-win cooperation, with the Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank (NDB) serving as a flagship project of BRICS collaboration.
The NDB, the first multilateral development bank established by emerging economies, provides financing support for infrastructure development, clean energy, environmental protection, and the construction of cyberinfrastructure across BRICS countries. By the end of 2023, the NDB had approved 105 projects in all member countries, totaling approximately $35 billion.
\"The NDB serves as a significant platform for international cooperation that transcends territorial boundaries, amplifying the voices of BRICS countries and representing the shared aspirations of other nations,\" said Dilma Rousseff, president of the NDB.
China remains committed to deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with its BRICS partners. In the first quarter of this year, trade between China and BRICS countries reached 1.49 trillion yuan (about $209.7 billion), marking an 11.3 percent increase year-on-year, according to customs authorities.
Ronnie Lins, executive director of the Brazil-China Research and Business Center, stated that China plays a crucial role in building consensus among BRICS countries, promoting coordination and cooperation, and advancing a common agenda.
'Not a Closed Club'Openness and inclusiveness have remained core commitments of BRICS members since the group's inception. Xi has repeatedly emphasized that BRICS countries do not constitute a closed club or an exclusive circle.
At a gathering in Xiamen in 2017, the Chinese leader introduced the \"BRICS Plus\" program, encouraging the participation of more emerging markets and developing nations.
On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates joined BRICS, expanding the group to ten members alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This expansion marks the beginning of a new era of greater BRICS cooperation.
More than 30 nations have either formally applied for membership or expressed interest, with many other developing countries seeking deeper cooperation with the group.
Speaking about the Kazan summit, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated that BRICS has become a positive and stable force for good in international affairs. He added that China is ready to collaborate with other parties to promote the steady and sustained development of greater BRICS cooperation, usher in a new era for the Global South through solidarity, and jointly advance world peace and development.
Reference(s):
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