Xi calls for cooperation among BRICS nations
President Xi Jinping on Friday called for more cooperation among the BRICS countries on economics, finance and security at a meeting of security heads of the five-nation grouping, including India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval, in the backdrop of a military standoff on the Sino-India border.
Xi said the five countries were faced with a “complex international political and economic security situation” and the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) should communicate more on financial cooperation, cultural exchanges and security issues.
Earlier in the day, Doval said BRICS countries should take the lead role in countering global terrorism and address also regional issues at the formal opening of the 7th meeting of the security heads of the group.
Doval’s visit to Beijing has been under the cloud of the military impasse in the Donglang and the focus has been on whether his meetings with the Chinese leadership would begin the process of resolving the logjam near the Sikkim border. The crisis was sparked off in June after India sent troops to the Donglang area – also called Doklam – which China claims is its territory.
Bhutan too claims the area. China has insisted on withdrawal of Indian troops for starting talks to defuse tensions.
While standoffs between the neighbours – which share a nearly 3,500 km border – are not uncommon, the Sikkim face-off is one of the longest in recent times.
In his opening remarks at the summit on Friday morning, Doval stressed on BRICS countries’ stand on counter-terrorism and the importance of discussing security-related issues among the five members.
“BRICS has grown in global significance over the years. It is natural we should hold a BRICS forum to discuss security issues that impact global peace and stability,” he told his counterparts from Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa at the seventh such summit. Doval’s bilateral meeting with state councilor Yang Jiechi in Beijing on Thursday was closely tracked but whether their conversation began a resolution or at least an easing of the standoff remains to be seen. A statement on Thursday’s meeting between Doval and Yang put out by Xinhua indicated that the standoff was indeed discussed.