BRICS countries should accelerate efforts for world peace and development, says China.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Monday (4) for greater collective efforts from the five BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - to promote world peace and stability.
247, with Xinhua - Wang made the request at the Formal Meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers in Pretoria, which was chaired by South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, and also included the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, and Brazilian Deputy Foreign Minister Marcos Galvão.
The main topic on the meeting's agenda is to lay the groundwork for the 10th BRICS Summit, which will be held in Johannesburg in July.
In his remarks, the Chinese foreign minister noted that the world is undergoing unprecedented changes in this century.
Under the current circumstances, the BRICS countries must demonstrate an even broader strategic vision, more powerful collective efforts, and a firmer will to assume the responsibility of generating greater well-being for their peoples and making a greater contribution to world peace and development, he said.
Wang stated that the BRICS bloc should serve as a powerful engine of global economic growth.
The BRICS countries must make joint efforts to build an open world economy, oppose trade protectionism and unilateralism, and safeguard common interests and space for development, he said.
They must be a central pillar of a fortress that offers powerful, fundamental support for world peace and stability, he emphasized.
In view of the current situation, the BRICS countries must especially adhere to multilateralism and defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and uphold international law, he said.
Wang also called on BRICS countries to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and actively promote exchanges and cooperation with emerging markets and developing countries outside BRICS, in order to broaden the circle of friends and strengthen the bloc's influence and attractiveness.
Participants at the meeting praised the significant progress made in the last decade by BRICS cooperation and China's important contribution to the bloc's cooperation after serving as chairman last year.
Given the complex changes in the international landscape, participants said that BRICS countries should further strengthen coordination and cooperation, deepen their strategic partnership, embrace multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and uphold the fundamental norms of international relations.
They also pledged full support and coordination with South Africa in preparations for the 10th BRICS Summit to ensure its success.