During the two-day forum, representatives from BRICS countries delivered keynote speeches under the themes of “strengthening open, innovative cooperation, working together for post-epidemic economic recovery”, “deepening cooperation in commodity production, promoting economic connectivity and mutual benefits”, and “positive response to climate change, building a sustainable future”. Parallel forums were held to discuss topics such as solidarity in fighting Covid-19 and in health cooperation, digital economy, industrial and supply chains connectivity, green and low-carbon development and other issues.  

This forum was co-hosted by the International Cooperation Department of National Development and Reform Commission of China, Fuzhou Municipal People's Government of Fujian Province, International Cooperation Center of National Development and Reform Commission of China, and Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission. 

Zhao Long, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Governor of Fujian Provincial People’s Government delivered the welcoming speech. He said that by upholding the open, inclusive, cooperative and win-win spirit of the BRICS, Fujian will take this forum as an opportunity to deepen exchanges and cooperation within the BRICS framework, jointly shape the future of BRICS value chain, and work together to open new channels for sustainable development. Fujian will contribute more to the Belt and Road Initiative by giving full play to the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center. Technology transfer and knowledge sharing will be accelerated and cooperation in the construction of industrial platforms, implementation of key projects, and aggregation of resources and other fields will be advanced. With these efforts, Fujian will facilitate trade, investment and financing, so as to achieve higher-quality, more resilient and more sustainable growth. 

After 16 years of development, BRICS has put in place a all-round, multi-tier and wide-ranging cooperation framework, becoming an active builder in international system and an important factor in international relations. The total GDP of BRICS countries has increased from US$2.7 trillion to US$24.5 trillion as of 2021, with its proportion in global economy increasing from 8% to 24.8%. And BRICS has contributed to 18% of international trade.  

Currently, in the face of the intertwined impact of major changes in the world and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in a century, global sustainable development is facing severe challenges. “Development is the key to solving all problems,” said by Zhao Chenxin, Deputy Director and Secretary of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, in his speech as a special guest. He noted that as important forces to promote the growth of regional and global trade, BRICS countries need to be committed to results-oriented actions, improve public health governance and work together to promote practical cooperation in digital economy, low carbon, green development and other emerging fields. BRICS countries can jointly safeguard security of industrial and supply chains, shape the future of BRICS value chain, and share opportunities with other countries around the world, so as to inject impetus to the economic recovery in the post Covid-19 era. 

In his speech under the theme of Strengthening open, innovative cooperation, working together for post-epidemic economic recovery, Huang Yong, Director General of the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, expressed that by upholding the principles of shared prosperity, mutual benefits and openness and taking advantage of platforms under the BRICS mechanism, we should strengthen policy exchanges, promote the flow of factors of production that enable innovation, expand cooperative fields, unleash potential for cooperation, improve the construction of infrastructure and develop new models of investment and financing. Furthermore, we should effectively advance the industrial agglomeration and clusters of energy, food, mining and other sectors and build a comprehensive logistics network that is complete and unimpeded, so as to facilitate economic and trade exchanges among BRICS countries and achieve economic connectivity and mutual benefits. 

It was learned that the forum was attended by nearly 400 representatives from governments, financial institutions, research institutes, industry associations, industrial parks, renowned enterprises, and international and regional organizations in BRICS countries. 

Source: People’s Daily