China to host 2017 BRICS summit in Xiamen

The 9th BRICS Summit will be held in Xiamen, Fujian Province in September 2017 under China’s Chairmanship.

The BRICS cooperation process was first launched in 2006. Ten years of hard efforts have resulted in ten years of progress. Over the past decade, BRICS cooperation has gone to greater depth and substance, yielding fruitful and laudable outcomes. Now, BRICS provides an important cooperation platform for emerging markets and developing countries. BRICS cooperation meets the objective needs of world economic development, conforms to the trend of the evolution of international paradigm, and serves the common interests of the international community.

The year of 2017 ushers in the second decade of BRICS cooperation. China stands ready to join hands with the other members to uphold the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-wincooperation, comprehensively deliver on the outcomes of the previous Summits, build a closer partnership, deepen practical cooperation in all fields, effectively address global challenges, and make bigger contribution to worldeconomic growth, global governance and democracy in international relations.

In today’s world, emerging markets and developing countries, with sound momentum and prospects for development, are apivotal force in global development. At the same time, they are faced with amyriad of complex challenges and “headwind” in development. The lack of steamin world economic recovery, the interplay of traditional and non-traditional security risks as well as the anti-globalization and protectionism tendency areespecially sources of concern. Against this backdrop, it is all the more important for BRICS to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, uphold common interests and shoulder the due share of responsibilities as major countries.

I. Theme of the Xiamen Summit

On 1 January 2017 when China officially took over the BRICS Chairmanship,President Xi Jinping sent letters to President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Michel Temer of Brazil and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, briefing them on how China plans to promote BRICS cooperation under its Chairmanship. He pointed out that China looks forward to working with the other members to take stock of the decade-long BRICS cooperation and draw a blueprint for future development at the Xiamen Summit under the theme of “BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future”.

Thanks to a decade of development, BRICS partnership has taken deep roots and represents the shared aspirations of all members. The strengthening of BRICS strategic partnership was  highlighted both in the 2015 Ufa Declaration and the 2016 Goa Declaration. Building on this, China looks forward to earnestly implementing the leaders’ consensus and working with all the other members for an enhanced BRICS Partnership. More specifically, we aim for:

- A partnership that upholds world peace. BRICS countries should advocate common, comprehensive, cooperativeand sustainable security, act in coordination and render each other support. It is important to uphold international fairness and justice and call for peaceful and political settlement of disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

- A partnership that promotes common development. BRICS countries should strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, press ahead with structural reforms, adopt innovative growth models and foster an open world economy. Efforts should continue to be made to holdhigh the banner of development and facilitate market inter-linkages, financial integration and infrastructure connectivity among BRICS countries.

- A partnership that carries forward diversity of civilizations. BRICS countries should support all-dimensional friendly exchangesand people-to-people contacts carried out by all walks of life to bringing people closer, and enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendships between BRICS peoples to garner more popular support for BRICS cooperation.

- A partnership dedicated to improved global economic governance. BRICS countries should continue to push forward the reform of global economic governance so as to make it reflect the historical trend of therise of emerging markets and developing countries and provide these countries with bigger voice and representation in international affairs.

China believes that, with a deepened partnership, BRICS countries will comprehensively strengthen practical cooperation in all areas, improve people’s well-being and openup a brighter future for the common development of the five countries. With a deepened partnership, BRICS countries will take South-South cooperation to a new high, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and openup a brighter future for economic development and social progress of alldeveloping countries. Witha deepened partnership, BRICS countries will enhance communication and coordinationon major international and regional issues, promote a fairer and more equitable international order and open up a brighter future for the global cause of peace and development.

As the BRICS Chair for 2017, China will maintain close coordination and cooperation with all the other members during the preparations for the Xiamen Summit so as to jointly ensure its success and write a new chapter for BRICS cooperation.

II. Cooperation Priorities in 2017

In his letter to his BRICS counterparts dated 1 January 2017, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the Xiamen Summitis expected to make progress in following four areas: 1) deepen BRICS cooperation for common development; 2) enhance global governance to jointly meet challenges; 3) carry out people-to-people exchanges to support BRICS cooperation; and 4) make institutional improvements and build broader partnerships.

DEEPEN BRICS COOPERATION FOR COMMON DEVELOPMENT

Strengthen Economic Partnership

BRICS countries are all members of the Group of 20. With vast territories and big populations, BRICS countries carry much weight in the world economic paradigm. Over the past decade, BRICS economic aggregate has soared from 12% of the global total to 23%, and itsshare in international trade increased from 11% to 16%. Together, BRICScountries have formulated the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership, whichdraws up systematic plans for deepening economic cooperation and fostering integrated trade and investment markets. The inception of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) represents a goodeffort to promote global economic governance and development of emerging markets and developing countries. Given the persistence of complex and grimworld economic situation, BRICS countries face both development opportunitiesand challenges. Against this backdrop, BRICS needs to implement the Strategyfor BRICS Economic Partnership, step up macroeconomic policy coordination anddovetail development strategies.

Promote International Cooperation on Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a guideline for international development cooperation.Representing the interests of emerging markets and developing countries, BRICS needs to hold high the banner of development, lead by example in the implementation of the Agenda, and consolidate the momentum of international development cooperation.

STRENGTHEN GLBOAL GOVERNANCE TO JOINTLY MEET CHALLENGES

Maintain International Peace and Stability

Political and security cooperation is an important pillar for BRICS. Through such mechanisms as the Meeting of National Security Advisers and the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations, BRICS countries have maintained regular exchange of views andcoordinated positions on major international and regional issues of common interest. Working groups on counter terrorism and on security in the use of ICThave been established. Building on past achievements, BRICS countries need to further enhance strategic mutual trust, intensify communication andcoordination on major international and regional issues, speak with one voiceon hotspot issues and play a constructive role in preserving international and regional peace and stability and upholding fairness and justice ininternational affairs.

Foster an Open World Economy

Economic globalization stands at acrossroads. The international community is to make the crucial choice betweenremaining open and going for isolation. The multilateral trading system lacks progress and economic cooperation becomes more regionally fragmented. Global trade and investment remains sluggish and less effective in spurring growth.Under such circumstances, BRICS needs to work together for an open world economy. It is important to firmly uphold the role of the multilateral trading system as the main channel, keep pushing forward the WTO Doha Round negotiations, opposeall forms of protectionism and particularism and ensure that all countriesenjoy equal rights and opportunities and follow the same set of rules indevelopment.

Improve International Financial and Monetary Systems

With the implementation of the 2010 IMF reform, an important step has been taken in the global economic governance reform. BRICS needs to continue pushing forward the reform of the Bretton Woodsinstitutions to increase the voice and representation of emerging markets anddeveloping countries in global economic governance. It is important to urge the IMF to complete the 15th general review of quotas on time, and expand and strengthen the role of SDR. Efforts should also be made to push forward the World Bank voting share review. At the same time, BRICS should make better use of the role of the NDB with a view to supporting the development of BRICS andother emerging markets and developing countries. BRICS should also encouragethe CRA to step up macro economic research and enhance its operability.

Strengthen Coordination and Cooperation in Multilateral Mechanisms

As responsible members of the international community, BRICS countries are firm followers of multilateralism.The five countries need to enhance communication and coordination in the G20,UN, World Bank, IMF, WTO and other major international organizations and cooperation frameworks to improve global economic governance and promote a more equitable, reasonable and efficient international order.

CARRY OUT PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES TO SUPPORT BRICS COOPERATION

Engage in Cultural Exchanges and Mutual Learning

Culture carries the spirit and blood of acountry and a nation and should therefore be passed down and enriched through mutual learning. BRICS countries all enjoy profound cultural tradition and distinct cultural identity, and are all outstanding representatives of the diverse human civilizations. Enhanced cultural and people-to-people exchangesand cooperation among BRICS countries will go a long way in deepening the traditional friendships and mutual understanding between BRICS peoples and promoting the exchanges and development of all civilizations. In the spirit ofopenness, inclusiveness, diversity and mutual learning, BRICS countries should introduce more mechanisms for cultural and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, work together to implement the Agreement Between the Governmentsof the BRICS States on Cooperation in the Field of Culture signed in 2015, and on that basis formulate an action plan. Efforts should be supported to carry out rich and colorful cooperation and activities in such fields as culture, art, sports, media, think tank and traditional medicines, which will attract more diverse participants, benefit more people, and make BRICS cooperation more attractive and appealing.  

Enhance Educational Cooperation

BRICS future belongs to the younger generation. BRICS countries, going through similar stages of development and enjoying high complement arity in education, should enhance educational cooperation through the BRICS University League, Network University and other channels, to jointly nurture innovation-minded people with international perspectives.  

Promote Development of Sports

Sports is an important hallmark of social development and human progress. BRICS countries all attach great importance tosports and actively participate in international sports affairs. Cooperation in this area needs to be further enhanced with a view to promoting common development in sports and deepen friendships between their peoples.  

MAKE INSTITUTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS AND BUILD BROADER PARTNERSHIPS

Improve Cooperation Mechanisms to Provide Guarantee for Cooperation in Various Fields

Institutional development for BRICS cooperation has started from scratch and made great headway over the past 10 years. Thanks to a decade of hard work, an all-dimensional and multi-layeredcooperation architecture pivoted by the Summit, but tressed by the Meeting of National Security Advisers, Meeting of Ministers of ForeignAffairs/ International Relations and other Ministerial Meetings and enriched bypractical cooperation in dozens of fields has been developed. Going forward, BRICS needs to strengthen institutional development, set norms for cooperation mechanisms at all levels and improve continuity and consistency of cooperationso as to make BRICS cooperation more efficient, practical and fruitful.

Build Broader Partnerships

Enhanced cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries is the calling of the times. BRICS has a fine tradition of carrying out dialogue and cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries for common development. It is important for BRICS to further expand its friend circle, and intensify communication and exchanges with other emerging markets and developing countries under the principle of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation to provide more positive energy for global economic growth and common development of all countries.