The 9th BRICS Summit kicked off in the southeastern city of Xiamen, Fujian Province of China, on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended warm welcome to the attendees.

"On behalf of the Chinese government and people and also in my own name, I warmly welcome all of you to the Business Forum," Xi said. 
The Chinese president said BRICS cooperation has reached a crucial stage of development.

In assessing the performance of BRICS cooperation, it is important to bear two things in mind -- the historical course of global development and evolving international landscape; the historical process of development of BRICS countries, both individually and collectively, Xi said.

Xi said that emerging market and developing countries are playing an ever greater role in international affairs.

"We are in a great era of development, transformation and adjustment," Xi said.

"The law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak and the zero-sum game are rejected, and peace, development and win-win cooperation have become the shared aspiration of all peoples." 
The Chinese leader said the past decade has seen BRICS countries making headway in pursuing common development.

The combined GDP of the bloc has grown 179 percent, trade increased 94 percent while urban population expanded 28 percent, contributing significantly to stabilizing the global economy and returning it to growth.

Economic globalization is facing more uncertainties, Xi said, noting that emerging market and developing countries find themselves in a more complex external environment.

"The long road to global peace and development will not be a smooth one," he said.

More than 700 million people are still living in hunger, tens of millions of people have been displaced and become refugees, while many people, including innocent children, have been killed in conflicts, Xi said.

Meanwhile, the president pointed out that the global economy has resumed growth, with emerging market and developing countries delivering a strong performance.

A new round of technological and industrial revolution is in the making, and reform and innovation are gaining momentum, he said.

"We have enough reason to believe that our world will be a better place," Xi said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said BRICS should promote the "BRICS Plus" approach to build an open and diversified network of development partners.

Xi said BRICS should expand the coverage of their cooperation and deliver its benefits to more people.

"We should get more emerging market and developing countries involved in our concerted endeavors for cooperation and mutual benefits," he said.

"BRICS places high premium on cooperation with other emerging market and developing countries and have established effective dialogue mechanisms with them," Xi said. 
The Chinese president said the Belt and Road Initiative is not a tool to advance any geopolitical agenda, but a platform for practical cooperation.

"It is not a foreign aid scheme, but an initiative for interconnected development which calls for extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," Xi said.

"I am convinced that the Belt and Road Initiative will serve as a new platform for all countries to achieve win-win cooperation and that it will create new opportunities for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he said.

China hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May which was attended by 29 heads of state or government and more than 1,600 representatives from more than 140 countries and 80-plus international organizations.

Source: MENA