Leaders of the BRICS member states held their annual summit in the western Indian state of Goa on Sunday.

At the Plenary Session, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he visited India in 2014, and the hardworking people and colorful traditions of this great country impressed him.

He also said the global economy remains in a precarious condition. He told the leaders that the group of emerging powers should cement confidence amid challenges, and work together for further development.

He said a "complicated and severe external environment" poses challenges to the bloc, but with joint efforts, the group is capable of boosting growth and stability of the world.

"We should strictly implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, strengthen South-South cooperation, and inject new thinking and new concepts to bring about a robust and balanced economic growth," Xi also noted during the session.

For his part, the Indian Prime Minister congratulated China and offered “full support as they take over the Presidency next year.” 

Xi on Sunday announced that his country will hold the rotating chair of the bloc next year and host its ninth summit in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen in September 2017.

China expects to work with all parties concerned to implement the consensuses reached at previous summits, deepen their partnership, and write a new chapter for the BRICS cooperation, Xi said.

Xiamen is a tourist resort city along China’s southeastern coast. It is known for its mild climate and beautiful sceneries, and President Xi himself served as vice mayor of the city in the 1980s.

The BRICS Summit 2016 concluded after the Plenary Session and the signing of agreements by BRICS nations. The five member countries inked documents on agricultural research, diplomacy study, customs cooperation, among other fields.

Modi addressed the media after concluding the BRICS summit. He said that he was happy the leaders have adopted the Goa Declaration that “lays down a comprehensive vision for our cooperation.”

Anti-terrorism, Syria crisis, tax policies, Paris Agreement, and strengthening economic ties are among the topics included in the declaration.

Modi also said the leaders all agreed to establish a BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, Railway Research Network, Sports Council, and various youth-centric fora, and to fast-track the establishment of BRICS Rating Agency.

“BRICS is committed to strengthening our consultations and cooperation on peace and security matters,” Modi concluded.

After the conclusion of the BRICS summit, Xi attended a dialogue between BRICS and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) leaders on cooperation between emerging economies. He said all the BIMSTEC countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, are China's good friends, good neighbors and good partners, and urged emerging-market economies and developing countries to complement each other's advantages and promote regional economic integration.

Xi also met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on the same day.