Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that the BRICS expansion is historic and a new starting point for BRICS cooperation.

Xi made the remarks at a press conference during the 15th BRICS Summit after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that six countries – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – have been invited to become new BRICS members.

Hailing the BRICS expansion as "historic," Xi said that it demonstrates the commitment of BRICS countries to cooperate in unity with all developing countries, meets the expectations of the international community, and serves the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.

It will inject new vitality into the BRICS cooperation mechanism and further strengthen the forces for world peace and development, Xi added.

He expressed confidence that as long as BRICS countries work in concert, they will bring out the best in BRICS cooperation and ensure a promising future for BRICS countries.

He called for all to work together to write a new chapter of emerging markets and developing countries seeking development through solidarity and cooperation.