[BRICS-Xiamen]China and Brazil’s Guiding Role in BRICS Cooperation

As the two largest developing countries in the eastern and western hemispheres and two important members of BRICS, China and Brazil have engaged in pragmatic cooperation across many fields, not only playing a guiding role in the development of the BRICS cooperative mechanism, but also enhancing the China-Brazil strategic partnership comprehensively to enable a leap-forward development.

In September, the 2017 BRICS Summit will be held in Xiamen, Fujian Province in southeastern China. A meeting held at an important juncture of the BRICS mechanism as it steps into its second decade, the gathering is expected to play a significant role in bridging the past and future. Under the theme of “BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future,” the meeting will focus on building consensus, drawing blueprints, sharing cooperative experience in improving global governance, enhancing pragmatic cooperation, increasing cultural exchange and strengthening the construction of BRICS mechanisms.

Since assuming the rotating presidency this year, China has been working with other members to improve new forms of BRICS cooperation in politics, economics and public benefits, which has not only fostered new avenues of BRICS cooperation but also laid a solid foundation for the success of the upcoming Xiamen summit.

First, the role of BRICS as a global governance accelerator has become increasingly clear. Currently, the global political and economic situation is positioned at a critical crossroads requiring profound adjustment. The rise of “counter globalization” movements around the world has exacerbated uncertainties in global governance and made it more difficult. Against this backdrop, Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over an informal meeting of leaders of BRICS countries on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburgin early July.

During the meeting, the five leaders exchanged ideas on key issues involving the global political and economic situation and reached important consensuses on increasing solidarity and coordination, building an open world economy, improving global economic governance and promoting sustainable development. Together, they made BRICS a strong voice to promote new globalization featuring openness, inclusiveness, universal benefits, balanced and win-win development, and shifting the international order to develop in a more reasonable and fair direction.

Second, the role of BRICS as an international stabilizer has become more pronounced. Global geopolitical factors are more complex today, as regional conflicts break out one after another. Cybersecurity and terrorism are causing increasing concerns, and traditional and non-traditional security challenges are becoming more intertwined.

To safeguard international fairness and justice, BRICS countries agree on the principle of multilateralism and always work together to tackle major international and regional issues. They exhort all parties to solve regional conflicts and disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means. The group advocates fully utilizing multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations to discuss international rules, build partnerships and address global challenges toachieve peaceful coexistence and a win-win future for all countries.

At the Seventh Meeting of BRICS High Representatives for Security Issues and the meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs recently held in Beijing, the members had in-depth discussions on issues such as global governance, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity and energy security as well as major international and regional issues. They staunchly promoted development of BRICS political security cooperation and inspired optimism in world peace and stability.

Third, the role of BRICS as a booster of solidarity and cooperation between developing countries has become more important. In the last decade, BRICS countries’ share of the global GDP has increased from 12 percent to 23 percent, and share of foreign trade increased from 11 percent to 16 percent. Share of foreign investment rose from 7 percent to 12 percent and their total contribution to world economic growth increased to a staggering 50 percent, marking a simultaneous rise of emerging markets and developing countries encompassing BRICS.

By firmly upholding development as the core goal, BRICS countries have carried out fruitful cooperation in fields of economics, finance and trade. They created a wide-ranging, multilevel and comprehensive cooperation pattern, made a series of groundbreaking and symbolic achievements, such as the foundation of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the publication of the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). Through joint efforts, they promoted the“BRICS+” cooperation model and built a broad platform for South- South cooperation. Recently, the NDB released a five-year development strategy focused on financing infrastructure and other projects, which is expected to inject new energy into emerging markets and developing countries.

Fourth, the role of BRICS as a cultural exchange platform has become more necessary. The BRICS countries are found in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, far-away places with distinct cultural heritages and folk features.

In recent years, the five countries have launched a wide variety of cultural exchange programs and greatly enhanced the people-to- people ties.

This year, China has conducted rich and colorful cultural exchange activities with other BRICS countries such as the Fifth Meeting of BRICS Education Ministers, the BRICS Games, the BRICS International Film Festival, BRICS Political Parties, Think-tanks and Civil Society Organizations Forum, the BRICS Media Summit, BRICS Health Ministers Meeting and High-level Meeting on Traditional Medicine, aiming to encourage people from all walks of life in BRICS countries to carry out friendly exchanges and promote cultural cooperation at a deeper and more concrete level. These efforts will consolidate public support and provide a strong impetus for the BRICS cooperation in every realm. As the two largest developing countries and important members of BRICS, China and Brazil have maintained close communication and cooperation in bilateral and multilateral mechanisms and promoted leapforward development and a comprehensive strategic partnership.

In political security, the two countries have maintained frequent highlevel exchanges. For example, the China-Brazil Highlevel Coordination and Cooperation Committee and similar mechanisms have been continuously improved, leading to tighter bilateral relations. Exchanges between legislators, military and officials in other sectors have become more frequent, adding more strength to the bilateral relations.

In economics and trade, China-Brazil cooperation has maintained high-speed development and formed a “three-wheel-drive” pattern across trade, investment and finance. In 2016, bilateral trade volume reached US$58 billion. So far, China has invested more than US$40 billion in Brazil.

Not long ago, a joint China- Brazil investment promotion fund was launched in Sao Paulo, Brazil, providing strong financial support for the expansion and upgrade of bilateral cooperation.

In the field of cultural exchanges, China-Brazil cooperation has also been promoted heavily. There are now 13 Confucius Institutes and Confucius classrooms in Brazil, ranking first in Latin American countries. Cooperation in scientific and technological research has become a highlight. The two countries have made steady progress in the fields of earth resource satellites, smart cities, electric vehicles and polar scientific expedition.

China and Brazil have also maintained close coordination in international affairs. For example, the Second China- Brazil Foreign Ministeriallevel Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue was held in Beijing on June 16, 2017,which enhanced mutual understanding and strategic trust. Furthermore, China and Brazil both seek to develop on new ideas, such as their cooperation through platforms such as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China and Brazil have played a basic andguiding role with pragmatic effort as an important part of overall BRICS cooperation.

Years of efforts have resulted in good achievements. Thanks to the joint efforts of China, Brazil and other BRICS members, the upcoming Xiamen summit will produce fruitful results. All signs point to wider pragmatic BRICS cooperation at new levels, accelerated progress in BRICS mechanism construction and greater international influence of the BRICS coalition. Ultimately,the group will open the door to a brighter future for shared development in other developing counties as well as promoting world peace and development.

The author is the Chinese ambassador to Brazil.