National Business Daily:

This year, the BRICS cooperation mechanism expanded for the first time, with the number of BRICS member countries increasing to 10. Could you please introduce China's import and export situation with its BRICS partners and the main achievements of the BRICS cooperation mechanism? Thank you.

Wang Lingjun:

Thank you for your question. The BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important platform for emerging market countries and developing nations to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and safeguard common interests. On Jan. 1 this year, five new partners joined the BRICS family. Following this expansion, BRICS countries now account for over one-fifth of the global trade, significantly boosting their international influence. In the first three quarters of this year, China's imports and exports with other BRICS countries reached 4.62 trillion yuan, growing by 5.1%. Embracing the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, trade within the BRICS family continues to achieve new and positive outcomes.

In the industrial sector, China and other BRICS countries have fully leveraged their comparative advantages in intermediate goods, complementing each other in basic industries such as steel, chemicals and textiles. In the first three quarters, China's exports of steel products and textile materials to other BRICS countries increased by 8.6% and 13.4%, respectively. China's imports of metal ores and methanol from other BRICS countries rose by 14.4% and 34.3%, respectively. Simultaneously, China's robust manufacturing system and technological strengths have contributed to the development of emerging industries in other BRICS countries. During this period, China saw double-digit growths in exports of various intermediate goods to other BRICS members, such as integrated circuits, panel display modules, and aircraft components.

In agriculture, China and other BRICS countries have met each other's diverse needs with competitive products. BRICS nations supplied over 80% of China's imported poultry meat and frozen cod, as well as more than half of its imported crabs. Meanwhile, China's exports of garlic, tomatoes, citrus and other fruits and vegetables have been well received in BRICS markets, with their exports all growing by more than 20% in the first three quarters. China and other BRICS countries have also seen frequent trade in agricultural machinery and materials. In the first three quarters, China's exports of combine harvesters, insecticides and herbicides to other BRICS members all increased by over 20%, supporting local agricultural production and development. More than one-third of China's imported potassium chloride fertilizer came from other BRICS countries, playing a positive role in promoting domestic agricultural production.

Moreover, bilateral trade has served as a platform and conduit for cooperation and exchange in other sectors. China saw rapid growth in both its exports of traditional Chinese medicine to other BRICS countries and its imports of coffee and cocoa products from them in the first three quarters, helping to promote multicultural exchanges.

This year marks the first year of BRICS expansion, with the first post-expansion summit set to take place soon. Looking ahead, as the scope of greater BRICS cooperation broadens and deepens, China's economic and trade collaboration with other BRICS countries will continue to make steady and solid progress. Thank you.