BRICS urged to build world of lasting peace

China-backed initiative aims to guide solutions on global security dilemma

China called on BRICS nations to firmly uphold the shared interests of developing countries and inject more stability and positive energy to the turbulent international situation, said a senior Chinese official on Wednesday.

Yang Jiechi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when chairing the 12th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security via video link in Beijing.

The meeting was held ahead of the 14th BRICS Summit, which China will be hosting.

Yang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the China-proposed Global Security Initiative has contributed China's wisdom to solving the current global security dilemma, and provided important guidance for building a world of lasting peace and universal security amid various risks and challenges.

Countries should practice true multilateralism, coordinate on tackling traditional and nontraditional threats, stick together and balance security and development, so as to achieve common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, Yang said.

BRICS was born in the historical tide of the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries, said Yang, stressing that the group represents the direction of the evolution and adjustment of the global pattern and international order.

He called on the five countries-Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa-to respond to the changes of the times.

South Africa's Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Brazil's Minister of Institutional Security Augusto Heleno, Russian Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev and Indian National Security adviser Ajit Doval attended the meeting and expressed the willingness to push for fruitful results during the upcoming summit.

During the meeting, work on counterterrorism and cybersecurity was reviewed and the participants agreed to jointly promote plans and road maps for international counterterrorism and cybersecurity cooperation.

The central and coordinated role of the United Nations in global anti-terrorism should be maintained, they said, while calling for the building of a global internet governance system that is more inclusive, representative and democratic.

Wide consensus

All parties reached consensus on issues concerning strengthening multilateralism and global governance, coordinating on tackling new threats and challenges to national security, and bolstering and improving governance in new domains.

Chen Xulong, professor in the School of International Relations at the University of International Business and Economics, said the meeting is an important platform for BRICS countries to pool consensus and contribute their strengths to global governance.

He also noted that deepened security cooperation and mutual political trust among BRICS countries also helped to implement the GSI, which is relevant to current security challenges.

Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies, said unlike the United States creating confrontation and tension across the globe, BRICS countries compared notes on global security issues and made a strong "BRICS voice".