Big BRICS, Big Unity, Big Achievements - Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Discusses President Xi Jinping's Attendance at the 16th BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Russia

From September 14th to 16th, President Xi Jinping was invited to attend the 16th Summit of BRICS Leaders in Russia. Upon the conclusion of the trip, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, briefed the accompanying journalists on the details of the visit.

Wang Yi said that in the golden October, President Xi Jinping flew to the ancient city of Kazan on the banks of the Volga River to attend the 16th Summit of BRICS Leaders. This was President Xi's first overseas visit after the successful convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, and also the first summit after the historic expansion of BRICS. In less than a day in Kazan, President Xi attended more than a dozen events, combining multilateral and bilateral activities, gathering with old and new friends, with a rich and compact schedule, practical and efficient content, and a successful visit. Media at home and abroad paid high attention and reported intensively, generally believing that the visit was fruitful with many highlights, writing a new chapter in the unity and self-reliance of BRICS, opening up new prospects for the development and prosperity of the global South, and China once again played an important role as a core force in BRICS cooperation and a core member of the global South. Against the backdrop of the great changes unseen in a century, the big BRICS cooperation is leading the great unity of the global South, having significant and far-reaching historical impacts.

I. Ushering in a New Phase of Cooperation for the BRICS

Wang Yi stated that the BRICS cooperation mechanism was born in the historical tide of the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries, influencing the evolution of the global power structure and the comparison of international forces. Since its establishment, BRICS has continuously grown and expanded, accounting for nearly half of the world's population and over 30% of the global economy, contributing more than % to world economic growth. It has become the golden trademark and the most important platform for the unity and cooperation of emerging markets and developing countries in today's world.

Currently, the world is experiencing an accelerated evolution of the century-long transformation, with humanity facing a critical choice between conflict and turmoil or peace and development. The BRICS cooperation mechanism has also entered a crucial stage of building on past achievements and forging ahead. Developing countries are optimistic about the prospects of BRICS and eagerly anticipate that the BRICS countries will play a greater role in maintaining world peace, promoting common development, and improving global governance. At the same time, there are some voices of skepticism and doubt regarding BRICS cooperation. President Xi Jinping attended the BRICS leaders' small and large-scale meetings in their entirety, elaborating on the development direction and fundamental principles of "BRICS Plus" cooperation in light of the new situation following the expansion of BRICS. He pointed out that the BRICS countries have come together based on their common aspirations. The greater the waves of the times, the more we must stand at the forefront, demonstrating historical initiative. We must forge ahead with unyielding determination, the courage to be pioneers, and the wisdom to adapt and respond to changes, aiming to transform BRICS into a primary channel for global South unity and cooperation and a vanguard force driving global governance reform.

President Xi Jinping diagnoses the evolution of the international landscape and the global development trend, profoundly expounding on China's propositions for promoting high-quality development of the "Big BRICS Cooperation." He points out that BRICS countries should strive to build a peaceful BRICS, an innovative BRICS, a green BRICS, a just BRICS, and a humanistic BRICS, serving as defenders of common security, pioneers of high-quality development, practitioners of sustainable development, leaders in reforming the global governance system, and advocates of harmonious coexistence of civilizations. President Xi announced eight practical measures by China to support the high-quality development of BRICS cooperation, further expanding the breadth and depth of the "Big BRICS Cooperation," solidifying the four pillars and eight beams of the "Big BRICS Cooperation," and effectively boosting the upgrading of BRICS cooperation, enhancing the gold content of BRICS, and strengthening the confidence and self-reliance of BRICS countries.

Facing the strong desire of multiple countries to join BRICS, President Xi Jinping emphasized that BRICS countries should adhere to the original mission of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation, and mutual benefit, actively respond to the voices of the Global South, and welcome more countries to join the BRICS initiative in various forms. With the joint efforts of all parties, the Kazan Summit reached a consensus, deciding to invite a new batch of countries to become BRICS partner nations. This marks another significant advancement in the development of BRICS after last year's Johannesburg Summit welcomed new members, signifying that the BRICS cooperation mechanism has reached a new level. The representativeness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism has further expanded, and its appeal, influence, and vitality are more pronounced, having grown into a strategic force for building a more just and reasonable global governance system.

Wang Yi said that the reason why the BRICS mechanism has been able to continue to grow and the BRICS cooperation has been able to maintain vitality lies in its open and inclusive spirit, its goal of cooperation and win-win, and its pursuit of fairness and justice. This is completely different from those "small groups" and "small circles" that adhere to Cold War thinking and stir up bloc confrontation. Since then, President Xi Jinping has attended every BRICS summit, creatively proposing a series of important propositions and initiatives, including the "BRICS Plus" cooperation model, personally driving the development of BRICS cooperation, and demonstrating significant achievements. He has played a crucial role at every critical juncture of the BRICS mechanism, leaving a Chinese imprint. Under the joint efforts and promotion of China and its BRICS partners, the BRICS has continuously matured and strengthened, becoming more vibrant, more powerful, and louder. It will further promote the common values of BRICS, safeguard the common interests of BRICS, and enhance the joint self-reliance of BRICS, injecting strong momentum into achieving a more equal and orderly multipolar world and a more inclusive and equitable economic globalization.

II. Forging New Consensus on Global South Unity and Revitalization

Wang Yi stated that the collective rise of the Global South is a distinct symbol of the major changes in the world. The Global South countries now account for more than % of the world's economy and play an increasingly important role in promoting world peace, upholding justice and fairness, and cooperating to address global challenges. They are a stabilizing, positive, and progressive force in today's world. The current global governance system is significantly lagging behind, and the representation and voice of the Global South are not fully reflected, which not only restricts the development and revitalization of Global South countries but also affects the international community's better response to global challenges. This time, leaders from multiple countries gathered in Kazan for the "BRICS+" Leaders Dialogue, engaging in in-depth exchanges on strengthening multilateralism, promoting fair global development and security, and freely expressing their views. All parties oppose hegemony, bullying, and double standards, call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and reform of the international economic and financial order, highlighting the Global South's desire for peace and security, pursuit of development and prosperity, and aspiration for fairness and justice.

In recent years, President Xi Jinping has keenly observed the global trends and grasped the pulse of the times, successively proposing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. These initiatives provide Chinese solutions to address the deficits in peace, development, security, and governance, earning praise and support from global South countries. Multiple countries have joined the "Friends of the Global Development Initiative Group," endorsed the Global Security Initiative, and supported the "Six-Point Consensus" on the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis proposed by China and Brazil. During his visit to Kazan, President Xi further emphasized that the collective modernization of global South countries is a significant event in world history and an unprecedented feat in the progress of human civilization, but the path to global South revitalization will inevitably be fraught with challenges. As the leading group among the global South, BRICS countries must demonstrate collective will, uphold peace as a stabilizing force for peace, revitalize development as a core force for shared development, and promote civilization as a driving force for cultural exchange. President Xi also stressed that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has made systematic arrangements for further deepening reforms and advancing the Chinese modernization, which will undoubtedly provide more opportunities for countries around the world. He encouraged global South countries to support each other in pursuing modernization paths that align with their national conditions, working together to achieve modernization for the entire world. President Xi's announcement of various cooperation initiatives led by China aligns with the common aspirations of the global South for unity, development, and transformation, once again demonstrating that China is never a mere "talk shop" but a practical "doer."

Wang Yi stated that from the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to the anniversary commemoration of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, from the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum to the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China's series of major diplomatic initiatives demonstrate that China always keeps the Global South in mind and is deeply rooted in the Global South. China is continuously advancing high-quality development and expanding high-level opening-up. It welcomes more countries from the Global South to board the "Rejuvenation" express train of Chinese modernization, heading together towards a bright future of world modernization characterized by peace and development, mutual benefit and cooperation, and common prosperity.

III. Establish a New Paradigm of Strategic Leadership in Summit Diplomacy

Wang Yi said that during the Kazan Summit, President Xi Jinping held bilateral meetings with multiple foreign leaders and extensively engaged with leaders of various parties attending the summit. They had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern, reaching many new important agreements.

This year marks the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. President Xi Jinping once again met with President Vladimir Putin, continuing the fine tradition of high-level exchanges between the two countries. The leaders of both nations highly commended the state of China-Russia relations, believing that they have successfully explored the correct approach to coexistence characterized by "non-alliance, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties." Both sides are committed to upholding the spirit of permanent neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation, setting an example of a new type of major-country relationship in the new era. The two leaders agreed to take the occasion of the anniversary of the United Nations' establishment and the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War next year as an opportunity to promote a correct view of World War II history and jointly safeguard global strategic stability and international fairness and justice.

Wang Yi said that the international community generally paid close attention to the bilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was also the first formal meeting between the two sides in years. President Xi Jinping put forward important propositions on the future direction of China-India relations, emphasizing that China and India should adhere to the correct strategic understanding, jointly pursue the bright path of harmonious coexistence and common development between neighboring major countries, mutually achieve each other's development dreams, and set an example for other developing countries to unite and strengthen themselves. Prime Minister Modi actively responded and proposed specific ideas and suggestions for improving bilateral relations. The two leaders positively evaluated the important progress made in resolving relevant issues in border areas through intensive communication recently, agreeing to view and handle China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, not allowing specific differences to affect the overall situation of bilateral relations, strengthening strategic communication, enhancing strategic mutual trust, jointly maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas, and promoting the early return of bilateral relations to a stable and developmental track. They also agreed to enhance communication and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Both China and India are ancient civilizations and important members of the global South, both at critical stages of their respective national modernization efforts. The restart of China-India relations from Kazan will not only benefit the hundreds of millions of people in both countries but also make due contributions to promoting peace and prosperity in the region and the world.

It is worth noting that leaders from various parties, during their exchanges with President Xi Jinping, all expressed firm adherence to the One-China principle, unwavering support for China's legitimate positions on core interests, and hoped to further strengthen the alignment of development strategies with China, enhance comprehensive strategic cooperation, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of global South countries, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Many leaders highly appreciated and thanked China for its objective and fair stance on issues such as Palestine, stating that China is the most sincere and reliable friend and partner, and looking forward to China playing a more important international role. President Xi Jinping interacted warmly and amicably with all parties, showcasing the personal charm of a leader of a major party and country, and China's circle of friends has been further consolidated and expanded.

Wang Yi concluded by saying, "Despite the ever-changing winds and clouds, our resolve remains unshaken; navigating the turbulent seas, we forge ahead. China will unite with its BRICS and Global South partners, working together with the international community, to continue chasing dreams on the new journey of development and revitalization, taking on responsibilities in the century of profound changes, and advancing the cause of human civilization hand in hand. We must thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, deeply comprehend the profound thoughts contained in President Xi Jinping's visit, and with a more proactive historical responsibility and a more vibrant creative spirit, grasp the correct direction of unity and cooperation, and mutual assistance in the face of complex risks and challenges, and open up a path to long-term stability and common prosperity in the midst of global upheavals. We will strive to create a new chapter in China's major-country diplomacy with even greater achievements, making new contributions to further comprehensively deepening reforms, advancing the Chinese modernization, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."

(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, Month Day)

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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