Speech by Xi Jinping at the 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting (full text)

Speech by Xi Jinping at the 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting (full text) https://whatchinareads.com/article/?uid=b0d96a54f31111ec9893c7030b3aab5e

2022-06-23: [Article Link]  Building a high-quality partnership to launch a new journey towards BRICS cooperation — a speech delivered at the fourteenth meeting of BRICS leaders (23 June 2022) by the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, colleagues: At present, the world's century-long transformation is accelerating, Covid-19 Pandemic is still spreading, human society is facing unprecedented challenges, and world development is entering a new period of instability and change. For 16 years, in the face of the horrors of the tide and the wind and the rain, the Chinese spoke of the “Flame of the Fire.” The Golden Brick, a large ship, took its course with the wind and the courage to walk out of the path of a mutually reinforcing and cooperative win-win. At the crossroads of history, we have to look back on the road and remember why the BRICS countries have set out; we have to look together for the future and work together to forge a more comprehensive, practical, inclusive and high-quality partnership that will begin a new journey of BRICS cooperation. First, we must stand by our hearts and minds, preserve world peace and tranquillity, look globally, the cold-war mentality and the political mirage of power and the proliferation of traditional and non-traditional security threats. Some countries seek to expand military alliances for absolute security, to coerce others to choose sides to create confrontations, and to ignore the interests of others. If this dangerous momentum is allowed to continue, the world will become more volatile. The BRICS countries should support each other on issues that concern each other's core interests, practise genuine multilateralism, uphold justice, oppose hegemony, uphold fairness, oppose hegemony, preserve unity and oppose division. This year, we held a meeting of foreign ministers, a meeting of high-level representatives on security matters, to deepen cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism and cybersecurity, to strengthen coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and to speak for justice on the international scene. Not long ago, I launched the Global Security Initiative, which advocates a common, integrated, cooperative and sustainable security vision based on humanity as an indivisible security community, moving out of a new security path of dialogue rather than confrontation, association, win-win rather than zero-sum. China is ready to work with the BRICS partners to bring the initiative to fruition and to inject stability and positive energy into the world. Secondly, we will insist on cooperative development to address risks and challenges together. The combined effects of the Covid-19 crisis in Ukraine have led to disruptions in the global industrial chain supply chains, persistent commodity price increases, and increased vulnerability of the international monetary and financial systems, which have cast a shadow over the development of countries, with emerging market and developing countries bearing the brunt. The crisis can lead to disorder and change, depending on how it is addressed. Since this year, we have launched the BRICS Initiative for Enhanced Supply Chain Cooperation, the Trade Investment and Sustainable Development Initiative, adopted customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance agreements, a food security cooperation strategy, and held our first high-level meeting on climate change. BRICS countries should take full advantage of these new platforms to promote supply-chain connectivity in industrial chains to address together challenges in areas such as poverty reduction, agriculture, energy, and logistics. New development banks need to be supported in their efforts to achieve a strong and steady inclusion of new members, while promoting improved mechanisms for emergency reserve arrangements, financial safety nets, and firewalls. There is a need to scale up BRICS’ cross-border payments, credit-rating cooperation, and facilitate trade and investment financing. Last year, I launched the Global Development Initiative, which aims to give impetus to the United Nations sustainable development agenda in 2030 and to the formation of a global development community. China is ready to work with the BRICS partners to promote initiatives that will contribute to stronger, greener and healthier global development. Thirdly, we will insist on innovation and the potential and dynamism of cooperation. Anyone who seizes new economic opportunities such as big data, artificial intelligence, etc., sets out the pulse of the times. Attempts to disrupt innovation in other countries and preserve his or her hegemonic position through technological monopolies, blockades, and barriers are doomed to fail. We need to promote improved global governance of science and technology so that the benefits of science and technology reach more people. This year, we accelerated the construction of the innovative base of the New Industrial Revolution Partnership of the BRICS countries, organized the Forum on Industrial Internet and Digital Manufacturing Development, the Big Data Forum for Sustainable Development, agreed on a framework for digital economic partnership, launched a partnership initiative for digital transformation of manufacturing, established a network of technology transfer centres and space cooperation mechanisms, and opened new avenues for strengthening industrial policy interfaces in the five countries. Taking into account the needs of the talent of the digital age, we have set up vocational education unions, run vocational skills competitions, women's innovation contests and build a pool of talent to strengthen innovative entrepreneurship cooperation. Fourthly, we will insist on openness and collective wisdom and strength. The BRICS countries are not closed clubs, nor exclusive “circles,” but watch-and-see family, partner-winners. At the Xiamen meeting in 2017, I introduced the concept of “Brick Plus” cooperation. Over the past five years, the “Brick Plus” model has deepened and expanded, serving as a model for South-South cooperation and solidarity among emerging market and developing countries. In the new context, the BRICS countries have become more open to development and cooperation, and this year we have invited their guests for the first time to a meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers. The new BRICS National Vaccine Research and Development Centre has clearly defined the principle of openness. In line with the principle of step-by-step, we have also launched a rich “Brick Plus” campaign in the fields of science, technology, innovation, human exchange, and sustainable development, creating a new platform for cooperation among a wide range of emerging-market and developing countries. In recent years, a number of countries have offered to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism. The introduction of fresh blood will bring new dynamism to BRICS cooperation and will increase the representation and influence of BRICS countries. This year, we have had in-depth discussions on the issue of enlargement on various occasions, and this process should be advanced to include like-minded partners in the BRICS family at an early date. As representatives of emerging market and developing countries, we make the right choices and take responsible action at a critical juncture in our history. Let us stand united, united and determined to move forward to build a community of human destinies and to create a better future for mankind! Thank you all.