Aiming to promote governance experiences in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, more than 150 representatives – mainly former BRICS dignitaries – gathered in Beijing and online on Tuesday to brainstorm ideas about governance in emerging markets. 

Speaking on this year's topic "Building Consensus and Confidence for BRICS Cooperation with a Shared Future," the representatives highlighted the importance of ensuring consensus and expanding common ground.

"Since 2017, BRICS seminars have been held in Quanzhou, China, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and other places, providing a platform for exchanges and dialogue between think tanks and people of insight in the BRICS countries," said Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group. 

"The seminar explores the complex international situation BRICS countries face, how to further consolidate the BRICS cooperation mechanism and promote the development of all countries."

Delegates from the BRICS nations emphasized the importance of multilateralism, mutual learning and global governance to achieve solidarity, and voiced support for programs like the Belt and Road Initiative. 

"In 2019, the center launched the Belt and Road project, referring to the Belt and Road Initiative, mentioned by President Xi Jinping in late 2013. The center and projects are demonstrations of school of law of Rio has a profound commitment to deepen academic exchanges with China and BRICS," said Sergio Guerra, dean of Rio de Janeiro Law School of the Getulio Vargas Foundation.

BRICS has played important role in global development. According to the BRICS website, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa together represent about 42 percent of the population, 23 percent of GDP, 30 percent of the territory and 18 percent of the global trade.