Wang Yi Chairs Dialogue of Foreign Ministers between BRICS and Emerging Markets and Developing Countries

On the evening of May 19, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the Video Dialogue of Foreign Ministers between BRICS and Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in Beijing. Foreign Ministers of BRICS countries, including South African Foreign 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 as well as ministers of guest countries such as Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, Senegalese Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall, UAE Minister of State Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, representative of Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister were present at the dialogue.

Wang Yi said, five years ago, President Xi Jinping proposed the "BRICS Plus" cooperation model, which has received positive support and enthusiastic responses from all parties, enriching and enhancing the value of the "BRICS". Facing the currently mounting risks and challenges, it is more important than ever to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries. We held the "BRICS Plus" dialogue event at the foreign minister level for the first time, which is of great significance for further expanding cooperation between the BRICS countries and other emerging markets and developing countries.

Wang Yi proposed three suggestions:

First, we need to uphold multilateralism. In the face of unprecedented changes and turmoil, multilateralism is the guarantee for emerging markets and developing countries to survive. The key to upholding true multilateralism is to adhere to extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, to advocate openness and inclusiveness, and to oppose closure and exclusion. We need to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, oppose ganging up to form "small cliques", and oppose coercing other countries into taking a side. We need to promote the global governance system to better reflect the legitimate concerns and reasonable demands of most countries, especially developing countries. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative. China is willing to work with all parties to promote the implementation of the initiative, enhance global security governance, and safeguard world peace and tranquility.

Second, we need to persevere in focusing on development. Development is our common pursuit and the mission of global governance. We need to promote the international community to prioritize development in global governance, compose a "melody" of common development, and play a "symphony" of sustainable development. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative, emphasizing the priority of staying committed to the development and a people-centered approach, so as to pursue more robust, greener and more balanced global development. China is willing to increase investment in development cooperation, work with other countries to push forward the initiative for in-depth and solid progress, build global development partnerships, and create an international environment conducive to development, so that development results can benefit more developing countries.

Wang Yi said that at present, the mounting trend of "de-globalization" as well as rampant unilateral sanctions and technological barriers have serious impacts on the economic and social development of emerging markets and developing countries. We must adhere to linking instead of decoupling, and complementing the chain instead of disrupting the chain, so that developing countries can better integrate into the international division of labor and cooperation, and share the dividends of globalization. We need to promote global science and technology governance and allow developing countries to get aboard the fast train of innovation and development. We need to strengthen global health governance to ensure equitable access to vaccines in developing countries and bridge the immunization gap.

Third, we need to pursue win-win cooperation. The collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries has become an irreversible trend of the times. Developing countries have become an important engine driving world economic growth and a new force pushing the evolution of the international landscape, and have gradually transformed from followers of global governance to conscious promoters. In the past, developing countries joined hands in the struggle against imperialism and colonialism to usher in a new era of independent development. Today, we need to make concerted efforts to improve global governance and jointly strive for greater space for development. We need to uphold the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance, carry out South-South cooperation on a larger scale, in a wider area and at a deeper level, enhance the power of international discourse, agenda-setting and rule-making, and promote the development of global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction. We need to strengthen the synergy between development strategies, deepen practical cooperation, and seek strength through unity. We need to respect the development path of each country that suits its own national conditions, promote a multi-polar world, diversified civilizations and democracy in international relations, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

Wang Yi said, China will always be a member of the big family of developing countries, and will always stand with other developing countries, adhere to the humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, and make unremitting efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The "BRICS Plus" cooperation model is born for cooperation and thrives on development. More countries are welcome to join us in promoting democracy in international relations, making the world economy more inclusive and rationalizing global governance, so as to jointly create a bright and better future.

The foreign ministers present at the dialogue thanked China for initiating and holding the "BRICS Plus" Foreign Ministers' Dialogue. They held the view that in the face of new challenges in the current international situation, "BRICS Plus" cooperation is of great significance. It will help promote solidarity and cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries, so that they can better play a role in international affairs, increase their representation and voice in global governance, and better safeguard the common interests of developing countries. All parties expressed their willingness to continue to deepen the strategic communication and coordination between the BRICS and emerging markets, so as to push forward the reform of global governance in a direction that is more just and reasonable, more inclusive and democratic.

The foreign ministers present at the dialogue expressed that we should support the promotion of multilateralism, defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and safeguard the cornerstone for developing countries to survive and thrive. It is necessary to adhere to solidarity and cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, continue to strengthen cooperation in vaccine and drug research and development, and help developing countries improve their capacity to combat the pandemic. It is necessary to strengthen South-South cooperation, build global development partnerships, and promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.