Xiamen - Chinese President Xi
Jinping on Tuesday urged Brics nations to deepen coordination on
global matters, and push for a more "just" world order, by
boosting representation for emerging and developing countries in
international bodies.
Reiterating that emerging and developing markets have been
the primary engine of global growth, Xi called for a bigger role
for Brics in speeding economic governance reforms and promoting
trade, especially as rising risks veil a global recovery.
"Brics countries should push for a more just and reasonable
international order," Xi told a summit of the grouping, which
includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
"We should work together to address global challenges."
In his closing remarks, Xi urged the grouping to battle for
more "representation power" for emerging and developing
countries, which some analysts say are often under-represented
in global institutions such as the World Bank, by comparison
with the dominance of the United States and Western Europe.
The summit in the southeastern city of Xiamen has given host
China its latest chance to position itself as a bulwark of
globalisation in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's
"America First" agenda.
Xi appeared to rebuke the United States's resistance to
international pacts - including the Paris climate accord - in a
separate speech earlier on Tuesday to leaders of Brics and other
developing countries.
"Multilateral trade negotiations make progress only with
great difficulty and the implementation of the Paris Agreement
has met with resistance," Xi said.
"Some countries have become more inward-looking, and their
desire to participate in global development cooperation has
decreased."
In talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),
Trump has sought improved terms for the United States, under
threat of leaving the pact, and has said he will withdraw his
country from the Paris climate accord.
Xi gave $500 million for a South-South cooperation fund to
help other developing countries tackle famine, refugees, climate
change and public health challenges, besides an earlier
$80-million summit pledge to support Brics cooperation.
Egypt, Guinea, Tajikistan, Thailand and Mexico joined the
three-day summit as observer nations, and Xi called for a "Brics
Plus" plan to potentially expand the bloc, although no new
member has been formally announced.
Xi lauded smooth progress in the grouping's cooperation in
areas such as anti-terrorism and internet security.
"Leaders from the Brics countries are determined to work
towards another 'golden decade'," he added.