At the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, China's Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, delivered a speech on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping. This event raised eyebrows as President Xi was notably absent from the key meeting, drawing attention to the words spoken by Minister Wang.
In his speech, Minister Wang made veiled criticisms aimed at the United States without explicitly naming the country. He emphasized that China's actions are focused on improving the lives of its people, but criticized a country that he described as obsessed with maintaining its global dominance. Wang suggested that this unnamed country had gone to great lengths to hinder emerging markets and developing nations. He further explained that any nation that rapidly develops becomes a target for containment, and those catching up become targets for obstruction.
Minister Wang asserted the right of every country to development and the freedom of its people to pursue happiness. He questioned whether the world should choose cooperation and integration or succumb to division and confrontation. He also highlighted the importance of working together to maintain peace and stability, cautioning against blindly entering into a new cold war.
Minister Wang acknowledged the achievements of the BRICS Business Council over the past decade, stating that it has deepened cooperation and contributed to the social and economic development of BRICS nations. This cooperation has also played a role in sustaining global economic growth. The minister expressed China's commitment to the forum's success and its significance in facilitating collaboration among BRICS countries.
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While President Xi Jinping was notably absent from the BRICS Business Forum, the event saw the participation of other prominent leaders, including South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also participated virtually. These leaders discussed the future of BRICS cooperation and global development.
During the BRICS Business Forum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's growth trajectory and its efforts to improve the ease of doing business and public service delivery. He also emphasized India's advancements in digital payments, infrastructure development, and the startup ecosystem.
PM Modi expressed confidence that India would become a significant driver of global economic growth. He praised India's economic reforms and its use of technology to advance financial inclusion, particularly benefiting rural women. Modi's visit to South Africa marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa.
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The 15th BRICS Summit, held under the presidency of South Africa, focused on the theme of "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development, and inclusive multilateralism." The summit provided an opportunity for BRICS nations to discuss their collaboration and contributions to global development and cooperation, even in the absence of China's President Xi Jinping.
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