China 'firmly supports' BRICS(2)

Thanks to the personal attention and joint efforts of leaders of the two countries, China-Russia relations have maintained positive, sound and steady growth throughout recent years, and the two countries have established the comprehensive partnership of strategic coordination. The political ties between China and Russia are mature and solid. There are full-fledged mechanisms for high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries and they have produced a series of important results. China-Russia relations have entered a new stage in which they are each other's important development opportunities and priority cooperation partners.

President Putin has stated that the Russian side warmly welcomes and looks forward to the upcoming state visit by the Chinese president to Russia. The two sides are now making active preparations for this. We believe that with joint efforts, this visit will be a fresh and robust impetus to the future development of China-Russia comprehensive partnership of strategic coordination.

During the visit, I also had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest. Under the new circumstances, China-Russia relations face broad growth prospects and important opportunities.

The two sides will implement the agreements reached by leaders of the two countries, keep the momentum of close high-level exchanges, continue to expand common ground and fully deepen practical and cultural cooperation. We will further enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs and work for fresh progress in the China-Russia comprehensive partnership of strategic coordination. It will not only benefit the two countries and their people, but will also go a long way to promoting world peace and development.

In recent years, the BRICS mechanism has become an important platform for dialogue and cooperation among emerging markets. How does China see this mechanism?

One important purpose of my visit is to have discussions and coordination with relevant countries on strengthening BRICS cooperation and ensuring the success of the Fifth BRICS Leaders Meeting in particular. China supports South Africa in hosting the meeting and stands ready to work with South Africa, Russia and other BRICS countries to deepen dialogue and cooperation between the emerging markets.

In recent years, the BRICS countries have enjoyed rapid growth and become a significant force for addressing the international financial crisis, driving global growth, improving global economic governance and promoting greater diplomacy in international relations.

The BRICS countries hold common or similar positions in international affairs. They have engaged in diverse forms of effective dialogue and cooperation and set up a multi-tiered and wide-ranging cooperation framework guided by the leaders meetings and supported by cooperation in various fields. Such cooperation is consistent with the trend of our times that features peace, development, cooperation and benefit for all. It represents the progress of history.

China firmly supports BRICS cooperation and takes a constructive part in it. China holds the view that BRICS cooperation is open, transparent and inclusive with the goal of achieving benefits for all through cooperation and common development. China believes that a BRICS cooperation mechanism that keeps improving its structure and delivers more results is good for both the development of BRICS countries and world peace, stability and prosperity.