POSITIVE FORCE FOR A BETTER WORLD
The BRICS mechanism has been taken by many around the world as an important cooperation platform for emerging markets and developing countries, which is expected to bring positive, stabilizing and constructive strength to the world.
Aerial photo taken on June 17, 2022 shows the headquarters building of the New Development Bank (NDB) in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
At Wednesday's BRICS Business Forum, Xi noted that BRICS cooperation has now entered a new stage of high-quality development, calling on BRICS members to deepen cooperation to better safeguard food and energy security, seize opportunities presented by the new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, help developing countries speed up development of the digital economy and green transformation, and engage in cooperation on COVID-19 response to beat the virus at an early date.
In the view of Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder and chairman of German think tank Schiller Institute, BRICS countries respect each other, firmly support multilateralism, and are committed to win-win cooperation.
BRICS cooperation in such fields as food supply and public health is of great significance to the world, Zepp-LaRouche said, adding BRICS countries can play an important role in eradicating global hunger and strengthening the construction of modern global health systems.
Lawrence Loh, Director for Centre for Governance and Sustainability of the National University Singapore Business School, said another notable area for BRICS cooperation is in innovation, technology and education.
In this regard, the BRICS can play a major role in spearheading new development for the next phase of post-pandemic global growth, said Loh.
Noting that BRICS countries gather not in a closed club or an exclusive circle, but a big family of mutual support and a partnership for win-win cooperation, Xi said when hosting the 14th BRICS Summit on Thursday that BRICS countries need to uphold openness and inclusiveness and pool collective wisdom and strength.
Herman Tiu Laurel, founder of a Manila-based think tank Philippine BRICS Strategic Studies, said the "BRICS Plus" cooperation model, which focuses on openness, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit and represents the voice and interest of the developing countries, will provide an essential impetus to global development.
Nourhan el-Sheikh, professor at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University, said that China has a sound understanding of what the world is confronted with.
"The world shares the same interests and challenges. We either live together or we will be ruined together," said El-Sheikh. "This is a very accurate vision and understanding of President Xi and China, stressing the need to co-exist and live together. It is a different vision from that of the West, which seeks to grow at the expense of others."
