Speech by Xi Jinping at the BRICS Leaders' Xiamen Summit Press Conference
(September 5, 2017, Xiamen)
Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China
Dear journalists, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon! I'm delighted to meet with all of you and share with you the outcomes of the BRICS Leaders' Summit and the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries.
Yesterday, the BRICS Leaders' Xiamen Summit came to a successful conclusion. The leaders of our five countries, under the theme of "Deepening the BRICS Partnership and Opening up a Brighter Future," exchanged in-depth views on the current international situation, global governance, and BRICS cooperation. We reached extensive consensus. The Xiamen Summit adopted the "BRICS Leaders Xiamen Declaration," reaffirming the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation, and win-win, and comprehensively summarized the successful experiences of BRICS cooperation over the past ten years. It also charted a new blueprint for enhancing BRICS partnership and deepening pragmatic cooperation across various fields.
During the summit, China hosted the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries, which was attended by leaders from BRICS countries as well as Egypt, Mexico, Thailand, Tajikistan, and Guinea. Under the theme of "Deepening Mutually Beneficial Cooperation for Common Development," leaders discussed international development cooperation and agreed to establish broad development partnerships, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and promote common development among nations.
Ten years ago, BRICS cooperation emerged at a time of profound adjustments and changes in the global landscape, attracting considerable international attention. Despite significant challenges, such as the international financial crisis, BRICS countries have explored a new path of unity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries, marked by mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Leaders of our nations are determined to take the Xiamen Summit as a new starting point, strengthen our confidence, and continue to forge a closer, broader, and more comprehensive strategic partnership, ushering in a second "Golden Decade" of BRICS cooperation.
We, the leaders of the five BRICS countries, believe that the world today is undergoing profound and complex changes. While the global economic outlook has improved, various global challenges continue to emerge. As countries with significant influence, BRICS nations should deepen communication and coordination on major issues, promote a more just and equitable international order, play a constructive role in upholding the basic norms of international relations and international fairness and justice, and cooperate in addressing various global challenges. We should promote open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win economic globalization, accelerate global economic governance reform, enhance the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries, and create a favorable external environment for the development of all countries.
We, the leaders of the five BRICS countries, believe that practical cooperation is the foundation of BRICS cooperation. A deep root can yield luxuriant foliage. We should strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, align development strategies, and comprehensively deepen cooperation in various fields, including trade, finance, industry, and sustainable development, to form a pattern of interconnected development. This year, BRICS practical cooperation has made new progress, with increased substance. We have devised a roadmap for cooperation in areas such as trade facilitation, services trade, currency swaps, local currency settlement, and government and social capital cooperation. We have established the BRICS New Development Bank's Africa Regional Center and developed the "BRICS Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation." Over the past year, BRICS countries have taken new steps toward a goal of trade and investment facilitation, currency circulation, and infrastructure connectivity. We all emphasize the importance of innovation, seizing the historical opportunities of the new industrial revolution, accelerating economic restructuring, and achieving higher-quality, more resilient, and sustainable growth together.
We, the leaders of the five BRICS countries, believe that deepening political and security cooperation and enhancing strategic mutual trust are in line with the common interests of our five nations and the expectations of the international community. This year, we have had in-depth discussions on international and regional situations, global governance, international and regional hotspots, national security, and development. We have reached important consensus. We have successfully held the Meeting of BRICS High Representatives for Security Issues and the first formal meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, injecting new impetus into the deepening of BRICS political and security cooperation. We have established regular consultations among our permanent representatives in New York, Geneva, and Vienna to coordinate our positions on major issues of mutual concern. Our cooperation in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, peacekeeping, and the Middle East has progressed smoothly. All of these efforts have enhanced the influence of BRICS countries. We support maintaining the positive momentum of political and security cooperation, playing a constructive role, and making greater contributions to global peace and stability.
We, the leaders of the five BRICS countries, believe that our long history and rich cultures are precious assets that we must cherish. This year, people-to-people and cultural exchanges among our five countries have fully expanded, with colorful activities such as sports events, film festivals, cultural festivals, and a high-level meeting on traditional medicine, all warmly received by our people. We have actively promoted parliamentary, political party, think tank, youth, and local cooperation, creating platforms for various sectors to participate in BRICS cooperation. We support making people-to-people and cultural exchanges regular and institutionalized, deepening mutual understanding and friendship among our people, and firmly rooting the concept of partnership in the hearts of our people.
During the summit, we, the leaders of the five BRICS countries, felt that as we enter the second decade of BRICS cooperation, the BRICS mechanism should be adapted to the changing times to provide strong support for deepening practical cooperation in various fields. We all support enhancing the functions of the BRICS Sherpas, regularly reviewing the implementation of summit outcomes, exploring new ways and approaches to BRICS cooperation, and strengthening the ties that bind us. This year, progress has been made in building new BRICS mechanisms. In addition to the mechanisms I mentioned earlier, we have also initiated the establishment of cooperation platforms such as the E-Port Network, the E-commerce Working Group, the Museum Alliance, the Art Gallery Alliance, and the Library Alliance. These new mechanisms will provide strong support for deepening political, economic, and cultural cooperation among our five countries.
Next year, South Africa will assume the BRICS presidency and host the 10th BRICS Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg. We believe that next year's summit will achieve fruitful results. China is willing to work with all parties to fully support South Africa in its preparations for the summit and jointly promote the continued development of BRICS cooperation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Engaging in dialogue and cooperation with other emerging market countries and developing countries is a fine tradition of BRICS cooperation and is even more important in the current context. The Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries hosted by China sends a strong signal for deepening South-South cooperation and global development cooperation. Leaders attending the dialogue unanimously believe that emerging market countries and developing countries are experiencing positive development momentum. They should play a greater role in implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, improving global economic governance, deepening South-South cooperation, exploring "BRICS+" cooperation models, establishing broad development partnerships, building an open and diversified development partnership network, and working together to embark on a path of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared sustainable development, injecting more positive energy into world economic growth and the common development of all countries.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to leaders from other BRICS countries and individuals from various sectors, including business, academia, culture, sports, and media, for their strong support for China as the BRICS chair. I also want to thank our media friends for your hard work. I believe that with the joint efforts of people from all countries and all walks of life, the future of BRICS cooperation will be even brighter, and the future of BRICS countries will be even better.
Thank you all.
Source: China News Network Original link: http://t.cn/RNdITMz
