President Xi Jinping Attends Session I of the 18th BRICS Summit and Delivers an Important Statement

On the afternoon of September 12 local time, President Xi Jinping attended Session I of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

The session was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the UAE’s Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Khaled bin Mohamed and Brazilian Foreign Minister, among others, and chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President Xi Jinping delivered an important statement titled “Jointly Shouldering the Responsibility of the Times and Striving to Be a Pioneering Force.”

President Xi pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation. Over the past two decades, BRICS has been growing with strong vigor and vitality, and become the most influential cooperation platform in today’s world for emerging markets and developing countries. These are 20 years of self-reliance and self-strengthening. BRICS countries have actively explored development paths suited to our respective national conditions, and set a fine example of emerging markets and developing countries seeking strength through unity. These are 20 years of standing together through wind and rain. Hand in hand BRICS countries tackled the global financial crisis, COVID pandemic, climate change and other challenges, and we resolutely defended the common interests of the Global South, providing the world with stability and positive energy. These are 20 years of fruitful outcomes. BRICS has realized a historic expansion, and now has a comprehensive, multifaceted cooperation structure. It has entered a new stage of high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation.

President Xi stressed that, today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world. The Global South is gaining strength, and the trend toward a multipolar world is unstoppable. At the same time, unilateralism and power politics are surging against the tide, lashing at multilateralism and the international order. The deficits in peace, development, security and governance keep growing. BRICS must stand firmly on the right side of history, strive to be a pioneer of our times, steer the international order in a direction that is more just and equitable, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

First, BRICS should be a pioneer in advancing innovation-driven development. BRICS countries must keep the initiative firmly in their hands, strengthen cooperation in the field of AI, encourage open source, openness, collaboration and sharing, and break new ground and scale new heights in our practical cooperation. BRICS countries are welcome to actively participate in the World AI Cooperation Organization. China proposes the BRICS initiative of AI-empowered new industrialization, and hopes to work with all parties for more outcomes in R&D and application and deeper cooperation in industrial and supply chains.

Second, BRICS should be a pioneer in upholding peace and stability. We should act on the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, oppose the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, and oppose violation of other countries’ sovereignty or interference in other countries’ internal affairs. We should participate constructively in the settlement of hotspot issues, and make BRICS’ unique contribution to addressing both the symptoms and root causes. China will work with fellow BRICS members to play a due role in bringing peace and tranquility to the Middle East.

Third, BRICS should be a pioneer in facilitating mutual learning between civilizations. We should promote the common values of humanity, and advocate exchange, mutual learning and harmonious coexistence between civilizations. We should hold the BRICS People-to-People Exchange Forum to share experience on national governance and build up positive energy for stable state-to-state relations. We should deepen cooperation in culture, tourism and education, step up exchanges between our youths, and facilitate mutual visits between the people to increase mutual understanding and amity.

Fourth, BRICS should be a pioneer in reforming and improving global governance. BRICS should align with the trend toward greater democracy in international relations, work toward a more just and equitable global governance system, and uphold the authority of the U.N. We should support the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and reject all forms of protectionist measures. We should steer global governance in frontier domains such as cyberspace, outer space and deep sea, and increase the voice of Global South countries.

President Xi stressed that during our arduous journey of 20 years, solidarity and cooperation have always been the source of strength for the cause of BRICS. We should continue treating each other with candor and sincerity, and seeking common ground while shelving differences. We should respect each other’s core concerns, and commit ourselves to communication and dialogue to increase mutual understanding and properly handle disagreements, so that BRICS cooperation will continue to advance steadily. China will take over the BRICS chairship next year, and host the 19th BRICS Summit. The Chinese side will seize the opportunity to build consensus and work with all parties to plan for the future. Together, we will usher in the third golden decade of BRICS cooperation, and open up a bright prospect of shared prosperity and progress.

Leaders of the participating countries had an in-depth exchange of views on BRICS cooperation and international and regional issues.

All parties spoke highly of the development achievements BRICS has made over the past 20 years since its founding, noting that the BRICS mechanism is broadly representative and holds enormous potential for growth. Faced with intensifying geopolitical conflicts and rising unilateralism, BRICS countries have the responsibility to speak up for the Global South, uphold multilateralism, support the central role of the United Nations, safeguard the sovereign equality of all countries, abide by international law, oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, support free trade, and work together to address global challenges. The parties should uphold the BRICS spirit, deepen cooperation across all fields, strengthen economic resilience, promote a fairer and more inclusive international order, and build a secure and prosperous multipolar world. The parties commended China for its important contribution to the development and growth of the BRICS mechanism, and expressed support for China, as next year’s chair, in successfully hosting the 19th BRICS Summit, working together to bring BRICS cooperation to a new level.

The summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration of the 18th BRICS Summit.

During the summit, the BRICS leaders visited a photo exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of BRICS, planted trees together, and took a group photo.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, attended the above events.

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