China to BRICS countries: Push for multilateralism

NEW YORK: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the BRICS countries should uphold the banner of multilateralism.

Unilateralism does not work, unilateral sanctions lose popularity and unilaterally using force is very dangerous, Wang told a foreign ministers’ meeting of the BRICS bloc that gathers Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He urged the group to maintain a multilateral trading system, strengthen coordination in macro-economic policies, and stay committed to reforming global economic governance and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Wang also called on the BRICS nations to firmly preserve the international system with the UN at its core.

He urged the five nations to push all sides to follow the basic principles of the UN Charter, such as equal sovereignty, non-interference in domestic affairs and peaceful settlement of disputes, and to constantly enhance the UN Security Council’s primary obligations in maintaining international peace and security.

Speaking of the recent BRICS summit in Xiamen, China, Wang said the top priority is to implement the outcomes of the meeting and turn the political consensus regarding investment, finance, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges among the BRICS leaders into actual moves. — Xinhua