Wang Yi Chairs the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

On the evening of May 19, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the virtual meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations in Beijing. South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco França, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attended the meeting.

President Xi Jinping delivered a video address at the opening session of the meeting. Wang Yi said, President Xi Jinping spoke highly of the significance of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, profoundly expounded on security and development, and put forward important opinions on deepening BRICS political and security cooperation, thus pointing out the direction for us to make a success of this meeting.

Wang Yi said, the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting is an important platform for BRICS political and security cooperation. Over the past five years, under the strategic guidance of leaders of BRICS countries, we have sent a common message on major international issues of common concern on multilateral platforms, and firmly safeguarded the common interests of the five countries. Currently, a series of new features and challenges have emerged in the international landscape due to the major changes in the world and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century. We should have a clear understanding of the direction, grasp the general trend, build consensus, strengthen confidence, and understand and adapt to changes.

First, strive to find the common denominator of universal security. President Xi Jinping recently put forward the Global Security Initiative, which points out the way to make up the peace deficit and solve the global security dilemma. As countries are interdependent in today's world, any attempt to seek "absolute security" or "exclusive security" is doomed to fail. We must go beyond the I-win-you-lose Cold War mentality, respect and guarantee the security of every country, and replace confrontation, coercion, alliance and zero-sum with dialogue, consultation, partnership and win-win results. We should act on true multilateralism and oppose all kinds of unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction". It is important to implement in earnest the principle of indivisible security and promote the building of a balanced, effective and sustainable regional security architecture. The BRICS countries should stay committed to independence, objectivity and impartiality, speak out for peace, do their best for peace, and support Russia and Ukraine to achieve peace through dialogue and negotiation.

Second, strive to draw "concentric circles" for common development. President Xi Jinping has put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI), providing a Chinese solution to the global development problems. The GDI has been widely echoed by the international community, with more than 100 countries and many international organizations including the United Nations expressing positive support and more than 50 countries joining the Group of Friends of GDI. Development is an equal right of every country. It's important to give priority to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the international cooperation agenda and pay due attention to the practical difficulties of developing countries. Developed countries should earnestly fulfill their commitments and render greater support for developing countries in capital, technology and capacity building. It is important to give full play to the role of multilateral institutions and mechanisms such as the United Nations and improve global development governance. BRICS countries should push the international community to focus on global development through concrete actions. It is important to resist certain countries' moves to build "exclusive yards with high walls" and create a "parallel system" to split the world. We should advocate mutual benefit and win-win results, foster an open world economy and create a favorable environment for common development.

Third, strive to build a firewall for human health. The international pandemic response is at a critical moment, and we should not take it lightly and give up halfway. We should support each other, better coordinate response measures and improve global health governance. China adheres to the dynamic zero-COVID policy, which aims to curb the spread of the pandemic at the fastest speed and the lowest cost, protect people's lives and health to the greatest extent, and minimize the impact of the pandemic on economic and social development. The policy embodies a sense of responsibility not only to the Chinese people, but also to the world. We are fully confident in winning the tough battle against the pandemic, thus making greater contributions to the global victory over the pandemic at an early date. BRICS countries should fully leverage their respective strengths, jointly promote the development of global health governance in a direction in favor of developing countries, and accelerate the building of a global community of health for all.

Fourth, strive to pool positive energy of global governance. Currently, global challenges are emerging one after another. Only by mobilizing global resources and coordinating global actions can we properly cope with them. "Small circles" can't solve the "big challenges" facing the whole world, and "small groups" can't adapt to the "major changes" in today's world. We should firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and ensure that international affairs are participated by all, international rules formulated by all, and development outcomes shared by all. The global governance system should be built and improved by all, rather than dominated by one country or a group of countries, and no country has the right to exclude other countries for whatever reason. BRICS countries should follow the historical trend of multipolarity and greater democracy in international relations, embrace a global governance philosophy that emphasizes extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and increase the voice of developing countries and emerging markets in global governance.

Wang Yi said, since China took over the BRICS chairmanship at the beginning of this year, more than 50 important events have been held, pushing the BRICS cooperation to achieve significant progress in various fields and laying a solid foundation for the 14th BRICS Summit. We should strive to translate the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation into concrete actions, deepen the building of BRICS partnership and inject more BRICS strength into global development.

Wang Yi said, we should further strengthen strategic communication and coordination and set an example of political mutual trust. It's important to accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and respect each other's sovereignty, security and development interests; inspire and support each other, and jointly enhance the influence and popularity of the BRICS countries; carry forward the tradition of independent diplomacy, and play BRICS' unique role in a turbulent and changing world.

We should further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and set an example of pragmatic actions. It's important to make good use of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Center, establish a BRICS early warning mechanism for preventing large-scale infectious diseases, reach the BRICS Initiative for Strengthening Supply Chain Cooperation and a cooperation strategy on food security as soon as possible, and keep industrial and supply chains secure and smooth; rely on the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement mechanism to enhance the financial resilience of developing countries; build a BRICS digital economy partnership and rely on the BRICS mechanism to seek greater synergy among countries' development initiatives and strategies.

We should further demonstrate openness and inclusiveness and set an example of strength through unity. It's important to make good use of the BRICS Plus model, explore BRICS Plus cooperation at more levels, in more areas and in a wider scope, strengthen solidarity and cooperation with emerging markets and developing countries, and make greater contributions to world peace and development.

The foreign ministers attending the meeting thanked President Xi Jinping for delivering an important speech to this Foreign Ministers' Meeting, saying that this fully reflects the great importance China attaches to BRICS cooperation. All parties spoke highly of China's active and effective work as the rotating chair, and expressed willingness to maintain close communication and cooperation with China, and make active efforts for a successful BRICS Summit to be hosted by China.

The foreign ministers said, the world is at a critical historical turning point, and it is more important than ever for the BRICS countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation. It's important to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of international law and the UN Charter, promote the reform of the global governance system, and build a more just, reasonable, inclusive and fairer international landscape. The strength of BRICS comes from diversity and representativeness. The BRICS countries should continue to uphold independence, support peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, and call on major developed countries to adopt responsible policies to control spillover effects and prevent unilateral sanctions from seriously impacting developing countries and vulnerable groups. All parties agreed to deepen the BRICS strategic partnership, increase the voice and influence of the BRICS countries in international affairs, and safeguard the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.

The foreign ministers appreciated China's active role in fighting the pandemic and coping with global climate change, and are ready to strengthen cooperation in pandemic response, trade, health, people-to-people and cultural affairs, climate change and other fields, and fully implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so as to better benefit the people of developing countries and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The foreign ministers supported promoting BRICS expansion process, saying that further discussions will be held on this issue.

The foreign ministers also exchanged views on Ukraine, Afghanistan, and other regional hotspot issues.

At the meeting, BRICS Joint Statement on "Strengthening BRICS Solidarity and Cooperation, Responding to New Features and Challenges in International Situation" was issued.