BRICS are urged to turn Sept summit into actions

Vice-foreign minister hands over gavel to upcoming leader, S. Africa

BRICS countries should try to implement the outcomes and consensus of September's Xiamen Summit to usher in a second "golden decade" of the bloc of emerging markets and developing countries, a senior diplomat said on Monday.

Li Baodong, vice-foreign minister, made the remark while chairing the fifth BRICS Sherpa Meeting held in Changsha, in Central China's Hunan province. Senior diplomats from BRICS member countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - who are in charge of coordination are called Sherpas.

"Friendship and cooperation with BRICS countries and other developing countries and emerging markets is part of China's overall diplomatic endeavor," Li said. He pledged to make an open and inclusive world while working with other BRICS members.

Calling the BRICS Summit in coastal Xiamen in early September a "complete success", Li said leaders of the five member countries had in-depth discussions and reached consensus on many important issues.

"After 10 years of development, BRICS has turned into an important force in promoting world economic growth, promoting reform of global governance and safeguarding international peace and stability," he said.

Noting that 64 high-quality outcomes of documents were produced from some 100 meetings and events throughout the year, Li said BRICS economic cooperation has been further strengthened during China's presidency this year.

The leaders have "mapped out new blueprints for strengthening the BRICS partnership and deepening practical cooperation in various fields", he said.

Li also introduced the outcomes of the 19th CPC National Congress, which blueprinted China's development in all areas for the next decades.

China will strengthen friendship and cooperation with other countries to forge a new form of international relations and build a community of shared future for mankind "in the new era", he said.

After the meeting, Li hosted a ceremony to hand over a gavel symbolizing the BRICS presidency to Anil Sooklal, deputy director of Asia and the Middle East at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa. South Africa will hold the presidency of BRICS next year.

Wang Xiaolong, China's special envoy to BRICS, said at the meeting that the BRICS agenda for this year has been "successfully accomplished".

At the Xiamen Summit, President Xi Jinping pledged to set aside 500 million yuan ($76.61 million) for economic and technological cooperation and exchanges among BRICS countries.

China also announced at the summit the injection of $4 million into the project preparation fund of the BRICS-led New Development Bank for the bank's operation and long-term development.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn