Xi calls for efforts to expand BRICS Plus cooperation

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"We should expand the BRICS Plus, jointly strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships and create a platform to deepen South-South cooperation," Chinese President Xi Jinping said.

Xi made the remarks at the BRICS Plus outreach meeting being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday.

During the meeting, Xi urged the BRICS Plus countries to seize opportunities and make full use of complementary advantages to achieve the goal of innovation and inclusive development, based on the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR).

Xi also encouraged the BRICS Plus countries to safeguard multilateralism, promote an open world economy, advance global economic governance reform, and increase the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries.

Leaders from BRICS Plus countries give their speeches during the BRICS Outreach Dialogue Session, July 27, 2018. /BRICS Photo

Xi attached great importance to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called for the building of a new type of international relations.

The comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Africa has developed rapidly, forming a comprehensive, multi-tiered and wide-ranging pattern of cooperation that benefits hundreds of millions of people, Xi said.

No matter how the international circumstances change in the future, "China will continue to support Africa's development and revitalization, adhering to the concept of true amity, good faith and a correct concept of justice and interests," Xi insisted.

China's status as the world's largest developing country has not changed, Xi said. "No matter how China develops in the future, it will always belong to developing countries and will firmly support the development of developing countries."

Xi also vowed to take BRICS Plus as a cooperation platform, and work together to make greater progress with emerging markets and developing countries.

BRICS countries' leaders attend the BRICS Outreach Dialogue Session with leaders from BRICS Plus countries, July 27, 2018. /BRICS Photo

BRICS heads of state and government – including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – were at the outreach dialogue.

Other participating countries include Angola, Argentina, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gabon and 16 other nations. Related officials from the African Union Commission were also present.

They spoke highly of the outreach meeting, noting that the dialogue shows the "inclusiveness" of the BRICS summit and support that a mechanism should be established for the dialogue.

They also agree with Chinese President Xi Jinping who urges that cooperation between new emerging market countries and developing countries should be deepened so as to reach sustainable development for all.

The sub-theme for the outreach is "Working Towards the Realization of the African Aspirations."

The BRICS group, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, concluded its 10th annual summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday.

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Michel Temer