Wang Yi, director of China's Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday urged BRICS countries to discuss avenues for cooperation and seek sound strategies for peace. 

He made the remarks at the 14th meeting of the BRICS high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed the new members to the BRICS family, stating that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, with various security threats intertwined, increasing deficits in peace and security, and rampant interference, containment and bullying against many developing countries.

Wang said against this backdrop, it is of special significance for the BRICS countries to discuss ways to cooperate and seek sound strategies for peace. Over the past 18 years, he said, the BRICS mechanism has adhered to the principles of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, setting a banner for South-South cooperation.

BRICS countries have increasingly become a constructive force in maintaining world peace, promoting common development, improving global governance and advancing democracy in international relations, Wang said, adding that its active, stabilizing and positive role in international affairs has become more prominent.

BRICS took a historic step of expansion last year, fully demonstrating the vitality and appeal of the mechanism, he noted.

Wang called for the strategic significance and political effects of the "greater BRICS" to be maximized while upholding independence, solidarity and common development, acting as implementers of peaceful coexistence, builders of multilateralism, promoters of political settlement, and defenders of fairness and justice, protecting the legitimate rights of developing countries, and expanding the development space for emerging markets, so as to voice a clearer and more consistent BRICS message in the global governance system.

Wang said that the meeting of the BRICS high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors is the core mechanism of BRICS political and security cooperation. He called for the full utilization of the mechanism to enhance strategic coordination, each other's core interests and major concerns to be taken into account, sovereignty, security and development interests, to be safeguarded, the international system to be steered in a more just and equitable direction, and contributions to safeguarding world peace and tranquility.

China will fully support Russia in its role as BRICS chair, deepen strategic communication, build broad consensus and make political preparations for the Kazan Summit to ensure fruitful outcomes, he added.

All parties at the meeting praised the unique role and notable achievements of the BRICS mechanism, stating that BRICS countries have upheld the principle of equality, considered the interests of all parties, and steadily increased their influence and appeal.

In the face of many global security challenges, BRICS countries should continue close cooperation with like-minded partners, oppose unilateralism, build a multipolar world and uphold an international order based on international law, contributing to the defense of equity, justice, peace and security, the participants said.

During the meeting, Wang also attended a dialogue session between BRICS and Global South countries and held bilateral meetings with senior national security representatives from Brazil, Egypt, India, Iran, Serbia and other countries.

The 14th meeting of the BRICS high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors focused on in-depth exchanges on global security threats, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, global governance and other topics, making necessary political preparations for this year's BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan. 

(With input from Xinhua)