Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday at the BRICS virtual summit in Beijing called on the BRICS countries to jointly defend multilateralism and the multilateral trading system.
"At this critical juncture, the BRICS countries leading the Global South should act in the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, jointly defend multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, strengthen greater BRICS cooperation and build a community with a shared future for humanity," Xi said.
Xi called on the BRICS countries to promote multilateralism and defend international justice and equality.
"History shows us that multilateralism is the common desire of the people and the prevailing trend of our time," he said, adding that multilateralism provides an important basis for world peace and development.
Referring to the fact that his global governance initiative aims to spur concerted global action for a fairer and more equitable global governance system, Xi stressed the importance of adhering to the principle of broad consultation and joint contribution for the shared benefit and protection of the international system with the United Nations at the center and the international order based on international law to consolidate the foundations of multilateralism.
He also called for actively promoting greater democracy in international relations and increasing the representation and voice of the Global South.
"We should reform to improve the system of global governance to fully mobilize resources from all sides and more effectively address common challenges for humanity," He said.
Xi said BRICS countries should promote openness and win-win cooperation to safeguard the international economic and trade order.
Noting that economic globalisation is an irreversible historical trend, he said countries cannot prosper without an international environment of open cooperation and no country can afford to close in on itself.
"Regardless of how the international environment may evolve, we must remain committed to building an open global economy to share opportunities and achieve win-win outcomes in openness," He said.
Xi urged efforts to promote a multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its centre and opposition to all forms of protectionism.
He added that there is a need to strive for universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, to put development at the centre of the international agenda and to ensure that the countries of the Global South participate in international cooperation as equal partners and share the fruits of development.
BRICS countries should promote solidarity and cooperation to create synergy for common development, Xi added. "The closer we work together, the more resilient, resourceful and effective we are in dealing with external risks and challenges," He said.
Monday's virtual summit was hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The summit was attended by 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 of India and Ethiopia.
The leaders said unilateralism and bullying undermine the international order, threaten international law and turn trade into a tool for interference in the internal affairs of other countries, seriously affecting world peace and development.
They stressed that BRICS should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly face crises and challenges, promote multilateralism, maintain a free and open international trading system and protect the common interests of the Global South.
Leaders welcomed President Xi's global governance initiative as timely, focused and providing clear directions for improving global governance.
They also agreed to continue dialogue on major international issues, including the crisis in Ukraine and the Gaza conflict.
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