Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the world’s major developing economies to “unswervingly” work towards an open world economy on Friday, as he attended an informal leaders' meeting of the BRICS countries ahead of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany.

BRICS groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Xi called on them to champion multilateralism and push for peaceful settlement of regional disputes. He also pledged common development and support for African countries. 

The BRICS countries should consolidate the role of the G20 mechanism as the premier platform for international economic cooperation, the Chinese president added.

Xi arrived in Hamburg on Thursday for the G20 Summit, where counter-terrorism, free trade and climate change will be top of the agenda.

(With inputs from Xinhua)