BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the BRICS countries to jointly defend multilateralism and the multilateral trading system while attending a virtual BRICS Summit in Beijing on Monday.
“At this critical juncture, BRICS countries, standing at the forefront of the Global South, should act on the BRICS Spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, jointly defend multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, advance greater BRICS cooperation, and build a community with a shared future for humanity,” Xi said.
Xi called on the BRICS countries to uphold multilateralism to defend international fairness and justice.
“History tells us that multilateralism is the shared aspiration of the people and the overarching trend of our time,” he said, adding that multilateralism provides an important underpinning for world peace and development.
Noting that the Global Governance Initiative that he proposed is aimed at galvanizing joint global action for a more just and equitable global governance system, Xi stressed the importance of following the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, and safeguarding the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law to cement the foundations of multilateralism.
He also called for actively promoting greater democracy in international relations and increasing the representation and voice of Global South countries.
“We should improve the global governance system through reform so as to fully mobilize resources from all quarters and tackle more effectively the common challenges for humanity,” he said.
Xi said BRICS countries should uphold openness and win-win cooperation to safeguard the international economic and trade order.
Noting that economic globalization is an irresistible trend of history, he said countries cannot thrive without an international environment of open cooperation, and no country can afford to retreat to self-imposed isolation.
“No matter how the international landscape may evolve, we must stay committed to building an open global economy so as to share opportunities and achieve win-win outcomes in openness,” he said.
Xi urged efforts to uphold the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core, and to oppose all forms of protectionism.
Efforts should also be made to promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, place development at the heart of the international agenda, and ensure that Global South countries participate in international cooperation as equals and share in the fruits of development, he said.
BRICS countries should uphold solidarity and cooperation to foster synergy for common development, Xi added.
“The more closely we work together, the more resilient, resourceful and effective we are in addressing external risks and challenges,” he said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hosted Monday’s virtual summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates, and representatives from India and Ethiopia attended the summit.
The leaders said unilateralism and bullying are undermining the international order, threatening international law, and turning trade into a tool for interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, thereby seriously affecting world peace and development.
They stressed that BRICS should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly address crises and challenges, uphold multilateralism, maintain a free and open international trading system, and protect the common interests of the Global South.
The leaders welcomed President Xi’s Global Governance Initiative as timely, targeted, and providing clear guidance for improving global governance.
They also agreed to continue dialogue on major international issues, including the Ukraine crisis and the conflict in Gaza.
