The 10th BRICS summit has wrapped up in Johannesburg. Leaders from the five BRICS countries, China, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and India attended an informal meeting on Friday. They praised the fruitful results of the past 10 years, and agreed to work together on a future of inclusive growth and common prosperity. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all members to uphold the BRICS spirit, deepen strategic partnerships, and safeguard common interests and boost cooperation in trade and investment, monetary and financial policy, infrastructure, and humanities exchanges. As part of an outreach dialogue at the summit, BRICS leaders joined leaders of African nations to discuss expanding the scope of cooperation. The meeting was dubbed "BRICS Plus". President Xi called to expand "BRICS plus" to allow other emerging market and developing countries to participate. Wang Tongxuan has more.

Expanding the scope of cooperation, leaders of BRICS countries are holding talks with counterparts from 27 African nations, 21 heads of states showing up, the biggest outreach dialogue in the bloc's 10-year history.

ANIL SOOKLAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, DEPT. OF INT'L RELATIONS & COOPERATION OF S. AFRICA COORDINATOR FOR BRICS AND FORUM ON CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION "All of them echoed the needs for us to further deepen our cooperation, to demonstrate our solidarity of purpose in addressing our common challenges, not just to the benefit of our individual countries or the 5 countries, but to the benefit of the developing world as a whole."

BRICS Plus is an initiative put forward by China last year to build a wider partnership among emerging economies. Addressing common challenges, President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of unity among the relevant nations.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "At China's initiative, the leaders of the BRICS countries have decided to establish a new partnership for industrial revolution. This partnership is for BRICS countries and also for other emerging economies and developing countries. We should seize the opportunity for development and fully release the benefits of complementary advantages and synergy."

President Xi asked all member countries to work together to foster a favorable external trade environment, while also protecting financial stability and intellectual property rights. Other heads of state attending the meeting also defended free trade and the multilateral trading system.

The Chinese president's commitment to supporting developing countries, and building close partnerships, has been noted.

ANIL SOOKLAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, DEPT. OF INT'L RELATIONS & COOPERATION OF S. AFRICA COORDINATOR FOR BRICS AND FORUM ON CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION "The embracing nature of President Xi, of China wanting to not have friction in the world, but wanting to have harmony and working together to build a better future, a brighter future for all of the human kind."

Leaders from African countries will meet shortly again, when Beijing hosts the Summit on China-Africa cooperation in September. WTX, CGTN.