On August 30, 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing for Chinese and foreign media. Foreign Minister Wang Yi introduced relevant situation of President Xi Jinping's hosting of the 9th BRICS Summit and the Dialogue between Emerging Market Economies and Developing Countries, and answered questions from journalists.
Wang Yi expressed that the 9th BRICS Summit will open soon. President Xi Jinping will, together with leaders of BRICS countries, exchange in-depth views on BRICS cooperation and topics of common interest. During the summit, China will also hold the Dialogue between Emerging Market Economies and Developing Countries. Leaders of the five BRICS countries, Egypt, Guinea, Mexico, Tajikistan and Thailand will gather in Xiamen to discuss major cooperation programs between emerging markets and developing countries. The Chinese side will hold the BRICS Business Forum with the largest scale so far from the afternoon of September 3 to the morning of September 4. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the business forum and deliver a keynote speech. On the morning of September 4, the BRICS Summit will open at Xiamen International Conference Center. President Xi Jinping will preside over leaders' small-scale and large-scale meetings. Leaders of all countries will adopt the Xiamen Leaders' Declaration. Later, BRICS leaders will attend the opening ceremony of the BRICS Cultural Festival and Photo Exhibition, the dialogue with the Business Council, the signing ceremony and other activities. President Xi Jinping and his wife Mme. Peng Liyuan will host a welcome banquet for leaders and their wives of all countries that night. The Chinese side has also prepared cultural activities with Chinese characteristics for leaders and representatives of all countries present at the meeting. On the morning of September 5, President Xi Jinping will preside over the Dialogue between Emerging Market Economies and Developing Countries. After that, the Chinese side will issue a presidential statement. President Xi Jinping will hold a press conference for Chinese and foreign journalists after the dialogue.
Wang Yi pointed out that the emerging of the BRICS mechanism is an inevitable result of the evolution of world pattern and the balance of power. The development of the BRICS mechanism heralds the constantly increasing positions and roles of emerging market economies and developing countries in global governance. After 10 years of development, BRICS countries have turned into a critical power in advancing world economic growth, promoting reform of global order and safeguarding international peace and stability. BRICS cooperation has entered into its second decade in 2017. It is in such an important period inheriting the past and opening up the future that China shoulders the responsibility as the BRICS presidency. Looking around today's world, the international situation is undergoing profound and complicated changes. As representatives of emerging market economies and developing countries, BRICS countries have obligation and ability to play a positive and constructive role in coping with various global challenges. China stands ready to make concerted efforts with other member states to jointly make BRICS cooperation bigger, stronger and more solid and improve the quality of the BRICS mechanism so as to benefit the five BRICS countries and the whole world at large.
Wang Yi pointed out that over the past year, centering on the mainline of Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future, China has focused on pushing forward practical cooperation in economy for new breakthroughs, promoting cooperation in political security for new progress and facilitating cooperation in people-to-people and cultural exchanges to become a new pillar, which have formed a new pattern of "three-wheel drive" of economy, politics and people-to-people and cultural engagement. A rich variety of activities have been held throughout the whole "Year of China" for BRICS, making adequate preparations for the Xiamen Summit, laying a solid foundation for the success of the summit, and injecting strong vitality into the second golden decade of BRICS cooperation. Five aspects are worth expecting at the Xiamen Summit. First, form stronger and concerted efforts for development. Second, send out louder BRICS voice. Third, lay a more solid social foundation. Fourth, build more extensive partnerships. Fifth, establish stronger mechanism construction. The outcomes from the above five aspects closely follow the development of world economy and international situation as well as the common needs of BRICS countries, vast emerging markets and developing countries, which not only embody the level of ambition, but also give consideration to the feasibility and pragmatic function, and will lay a solid foundation for deepening BRICS partnership and ushering into the second golden decade of BRICS cooperation.
Wang Yi expressed that under joint efforts of all parties, the BRICS Xiamen Summit will leave a distinctive imprint on history and open up a new course of cooperation. The ship of BRICS cooperation and BRICS friendship will conform to the trend of the times and set sail toward a better tomorrow.