(September 5, 2017)

Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China

Dear friends from the media, 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. I am glad to meet with you here, and to brief you on the BRICS Xiamen Summit and the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries.

A successful BRICS Xiamen Summit concluded yesterday. The leaders of the five countries exchanged views on the current international situation, on global governance, and on BRICS cooperation under the theme of “Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future”, and reached a broad consensus. The summit adopted the BRICS Leaders Xiamen Declaration, reiterated the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, summarized the comprehensive experience gained from the first decade of BRICS cooperation, and drew up a blueprint for a closer BRICS partnership and deeper practical cooperation in various fields.

During the summit, China held the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries. Leaders of the BRICS countries, Egypt, Mexico, Thailand, Tajikistan and Guinea attended at our invitation. We discussed actions supporting international development cooperation under the theme of “Strengthening Mutually-beneficial Cooperation for Common Development”. We all agreed to establish extensive development partnerships, speed up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and promote the common development of all countries.

Ten years ago, BRICS cooperation was initiated when the world was experiencing radical change. It attracted close international attention. Having experienced severe challenges like the international financial crisis, the BRICS countries have blazed a new development trail featuring unity, cooperation and mutually-beneficial results for emerging market and developing countries. Leaders of the five countries determined to take the Xiamen Summit as a new beginning to forge a closer, more extensive, and more comprehensive strategic partnership, and to usher in the second “golden decade” of BRICS cooperation.

Leaders of the five countries agree that the world is currently experiencing a period of complex and profound change. Global economic prospects are improving, but a succession of global challenges are emerging. BRICS countries, all having great influence in the world, should have deeper communication and coordination on major issues to push forward the establishment of a fairer and more equitable international order. We should play a constructive role, safeguard the basic norms governing international relations, and maintain international fairness and justice; we should cooperate to address various global challenges, work for an economic globalization that features openness, tolerance, inclusiveness, balance and win- win outcomes, speed up the reform of global economic governance, and promote greater representation of emerging market and developing countries and make their voice better heard in global economic governance, so as to create a favorable environment for development.

Leaders of the five countries agree that practical cooperation is the foundation of BRICS cooperation. Only if this foundation is strong and solid can BRICS cooperation bear fruit. Acting on the principle of mutual benefit, BRICS countries should strengthen macro policy coordination, coordinate development strategies, establish deeper cooperation in fields including economy, trade, finance, industry and sustainable development, and achieve interconnected development. The new progress made this year has added more substance to BRICS practical cooperation. We have designed a roadmap for cooperation in trade facilitation, service trade, currency swap, settlement with local currency, and public-private partnership. We have opened the African Regional Center of the New Development Bank and drawn up the BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation. Through our efforts over the last year, BRICS countries have moved one step closer to greater connectivity in trade, investment, currency, finance, and infrastructure. We have called for greater priority to be given to innovation, and stressed the need to grasp the historic opportunity of the new industrial revolution, speed up the optimization of the economic structure, and achieve more quality, resilient, and sustainable development.

Leaders of the five countries agree that it serves the common interest of the five countries and matches the expectations of the international community that the BRICS countries strengthen political and security cooperation and enhance strategic mutual trust. This year, on such topics as the international situation, global governance, regional and international flashpoints, and national security and development, we have had in-depth discussions and reached important consensus. We have held the Meeting of BRICS High Representatives for Security Issues and the first Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which added new impetus to BRICS political and security cooperation. We have set up a mechanism of regular meetings among our permanent representatives to the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna to coordinate positions on major issues of common concern. We have moved forward in our cooperation in counterterrorism, cyber security, peacekeeping, and the Middle East. All these have extended the influence of BRICS countries. We intend to continue this momentum, and play our proper role, so as to contribute even more to world peace and stability.

Leaders of the five countries agree that our long history and brilliant cultures are invaluable assets and should be highly treasured. This year, our five countries have expanded cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. A number of events have been held including the BRICS Games, the BRCIS Film Festival, the BRICS Culture Festival, and the High-level Meeting on Traditional Medicine, all receiving enthusiastic support from our peoples. We have actively promoted cooperation between parliaments, political parties, think tanks, young people and local areas, and established platforms for people from different sectors to participate in BRICS cooperation. We support regular and institutionalized people-to-people and cultural exchanges with a view to promoting a deeper understanding and friendship among our peoples and soliciting greater public support for our partnership.

During our meetings, leaders of the five countries all recognized the need for BRICS to keep pace with the times as our cooperation enters the second decade. We should enhance institution building to provide guarantee for more in-depth and practical cooperation in various fields. We all support giving our sherpas a greater mandate to review the follow-ups to every summit at regular intervals, explore new ways of cooperation, and stay in close contact. This year has seen new progress in BRICS institution building. In addition to the two mechanisms I mentioned earlier — the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the regular meeting among our permanent representatives to the United Nations, we have also set up a number of cooperation platforms, including the Model E-Port Network, the E-Commerce Working Group, the Alliance of Museums, the Alliance of Art Museums and National Galleries, and the Alliance of Libraries. These new mechanisms will provide guarantee for closer political, economic and cultural cooperation among our five countries.

South Africa will take over the BRICS chairmanship and host the tenth BRICS Summit in Johannesburg next year. We believe that the summit will achieve great results. China will work with all other parties to give full support for the summit and keep pushing for greater progress of BRICS cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As a strong tradition of BRICS, dialogue and cooperation with other emerging market and developing countries is all the more important under the current situation. The Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries hosted by China has sent a strong message of deeper South-South cooperation and global development cooperation. Leaders of all participating countries agree that emerging market and developing countries have good development momentum and should play a bigger role in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in improving global economic governance. They also agree to extend South- South cooperation, develop a “BRICS Plus” cooperation framework, forge an extensive development partnership, and establish an open and diversified network of development partners. Together, we can explore a sustainable development path that is innovative, coordinated, green, open, and inclusive, and inject more positive force into global growth and shared prosperity.

To conclude, let me take this opportunity to thank other BRICS leaders and friends from business, cultural, and sports communities and think tanks for their great support during China’s BRICS chairmanship. My thanks also go to our friends from the media who have been working really hard. I believe that the joint efforts of our five countries and our people in various sectors can ensure bright prospects for BRICS cooperation and for the development of BRICS countries.

Thank you.