Dear Colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to attend today's meeting. Please allow me to convey warm greetings of H.E. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, to foreign ministers and representatives of BRICS members and partner countries.
BRICS is the most important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries in the world today. Over the past two decades since its founding, BRICS has kept growing in strength, injecting strong momentum into world multipolarity and the democratization of international relations. As we speak, the world is faced with severe turmoils and rising global challenges. President Xi Jinping noted that standing at the forefront of the Global South, we should use our collective wisdom and strength, and stand up to our responsibility for building a community with a shared future for humanity. As to the future direction of greater BRICS cooperation, China wishes to make the following proposals.
First, we should strengthen strategic collaboration to let the voice of justice ring louder. The greater BRICS needs to hold high the banner of multilateralism, and take the lead in upholding the U.N.-centered international system and firmly rejecting acts that undermine the international order and trample on international rules. We should support each other on matters that concern our respective core national interests, make good use of BRICS mechanisms such as the NSA Meeting and MENA to enhance communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, push for dispute resolution through peaceful means, and join hands to address security challenges in all forms. China proposes that we renew the consultation among U.N. Permanent Representatives of BRICS countries, strengthen collaboration and speak with one voice in the WTO, the IMF and other multilateral mechanisms, to safeguard the interests of the Global South and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system.
Second, we should pursue mutual benefit and win-win results to further consolidate economic cooperation. Faced with the spreading unilateralism and protectionism, China maintains that it is necessary to strengthen greater BRICS coordination on macroeconomic policies and adopt more trade and investment facilitation measures. We should push forward local currency and cross-border payment cooperation and improve the financial safety net, to build up the ability to ward off external risks. In the face of global energy and food security challenges, we should implement the BRICS Strategy on Food Security Cooperation and build a more resilient and sustainable agriculture and food system. We should harness the BRICS Deep-Sea Resources International Research Center, the Meeting of the Heads of Geological Services of BRICS Countries and relevant mechanisms to enhance cooperation on the development and governance of strategic mineral resources and keep industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded.
Third, we should seize the opportunities of technological transformation to enhance innovation vitality. Innovation serves as a catalyst for greater BRICS cooperation. China proposes that we make full use of the BRICS PartNIR Innovation Center and the BRICS Center for Industrial Competences to create more cooperation highlights in digital economy, smart manufacturing, and new industrialization. We should actively expand AI plus cooperation and promote the integration of AI with science and technology, health, agriculture, education and other areas to fully empower the greater BRICS development. China has set up the China-BRICS AI Development and Cooperation Center and the China-BRICS New Quality Productive Forces Research Center, which are open to all BRICS members and partner countries. We look forward to your active participation.
Fourth, we should boost mutual learning and experience sharing to forge closer people-to-people bonds. Diverse civilizations are an inexhaustible treasure trove for the greater BRICS. China proposes that we step up exchanges of experience in governance and fully tap the potential for people-to-people and cultural cooperation to jointly create a BRICS model of peaceful and harmonious coexistence among different civilizations. We should deepen cooperation in education and implement benchmark projects including the initiative for BRICS digital education and BRICS Network University. We should advance cooperation in culture and sports, and among youths and think tanks, and carry out down-to-earth and heart-warming activities such as the BRICS Film Festival and BRICS Games, for stronger people-to-people ties.
China always supports the deep integration of partner countries into BRICS and their full participation in BRICS cooperation. This will deliver new energy and vitality for the development of the greater BRICS. Let us work together to open up new prospects for the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation.
