Is BRICS ready to talk politics?

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Now that the Xiamen BRICS Summit has closed, it's time to discuss the results on both economic and political fronts.

Brazilian President Michel Temer said his talks with other BRICS leaders will benefit business and trade for his country. “We will open additional markets both domestically and internationally, and will be able to attract billions of dollars of new investment to Brazil,” said President Temer.

South African President Jacob Zuma said translating the meeting’s results into real business opportunities would be the key in the future. South Africa will also take over the presidency of BRICS next year.

South African President Jacob Zuma at the Xiamen BRICS Summit. /VCG Photo

As economic relations strengthen, BRICS’ intention to step further into the global political arena and empower the developing countries was also shown during this summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all BRICS nations to join forces, address global issues and push for more fairness in international order. The summit also released a statement against terrorism.

Anton Fedyashin, a history professor from American University, said that the world order is already changing.

“We are living through the tectonic shift of economic and geopolitical decision coming out of Washington and European capitals, and a more equal distribution of this decision making to the rest of the world. China is the first and foremost, and also Russia, also Turkey regionally, also India regionally, and other countries,” Fedyashin said.

The recent border disputes between China and India have inevitably brought politics into the spotlight at this Xiamen Summit. The heads of the two countries managed to meet on the side and help ease tensions, which is seen as a major achievement on the political front.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that China and India should find a common ground and solve disputes with mutual respect.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet during the ninth BRICS summit in Xiamen, China on September 5, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the Modi-Xi meeting was ‘forward looking and constructive’, as good bilateral relations will do good for both countries.

(Gao Songya also contributed to the story)