Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa share international obligations in safeguarding global stability and advancing common development. Speaking at a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in Pretoria, Wang said the world is witnessing unprecedented changes and challenges. These include rising unilateralism and protectionism, a re-emerging cold war mentality, income inequality and the social instability that creates. Wang said BRICS countries should work together to create a stable environment for more balanced and inclusive development. BRICS members have agreed on joint action in several areas. CGTN's Yolisa Njamela has more.

BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. These ministers are expected to lay the foundation for the annual summit of the grouping in Johannesburg next month.

LINDIWE SISULU SOUTH AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS MINISTER "The evolving world in which we live requires of us to keep track with its multifaceted and dynamic changes. We are also beholden to our resolutions and ensuring that we realize them in this changing world."

SERGEY LAVROV RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER "Our group stands firm when we defend the basic principles of the UN charter. First of all, the sovereign equality of states and the non-interference in the internal affairs. We stick to the principles of indivisible security in all of its dimensions and the collective methods of crisis resolution for political and diplomatic means."

The 2018 Summit will be an important milestone for BRICS cooperation, as it represents a decade of BRICS cooperation at the highest diplomatic level. South Africa is the current BRICS chair.

SUSHMA SWARAJ INDIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER "India attaches importance to the rule of BRICS in consolidating intra BRICS cooperation and in international affairs. I'm more than confident that under South Africa's able chairmanship this initiative will be carried to new heights."

WANG YI CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER "We need to deepen the cooperation, dig into new driver forces of full growth and focus on innovation. We need to stick to dialogue and consultation, deepen mutual trust and set an example into state relations. Be open and inclusive."

MARCOS GALVAO BRAZILIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER "We stand out as a coalition committed to equipping global structures with the necessary means to deal with an increasingly complex world and complex challenges both in the economic and political spheres."

The July summit will culminate in the adoption of the Johannesburg Declaration, which will include BRICS' commitments for the year ahead. Yolisa Njamela, CGTN, Pretoria, South Africa.