2021 is the 15th anniversary of BRICS cooperation. On September 9, 2021, the leaders of China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, and India held the 13th meeting of the leaders of the BRICS countries via video. The leaders of the five countries conducted in-depth exchanges on the theme of "BRIC 15th Anniversary: Carrying out BRICS Cooperation to Promote Continuation, Consolidation and Consensus".

In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping comprehensively expounded the position and propositions of strengthening BRICS cooperation in various fields under the current situation, and promoted the steady and long-term development of BRICS cooperation. The "New Delhi Declaration on the 13th Meeting of the Leaders of the BRICS" adopted at the meeting, from "Global Health Challenges and New Coronavirus Pneumonia", "Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral System", "Peace, Security and Counter-Terrorism Cooperation", "Sustainable Development and Its Innovation" The six aspects of "means of realization", "economic, trade and financial cooperation to promote sustainable development" and "people-to-people and cultural exchanges" have further clarified the achievements, problems and directions of the BRICS cooperation.

Actively carry out international anti-epidemic cooperation

Since the development of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, it has become a good platform for the BRICS member countries to discuss cooperation measures and strengthen solidarity and cooperation. In the current century, the epidemic situation is intertwined with a century of changes, and the international situation is profoundly evolving. The BRICS countries are actively carrying out cooperation in epidemic prevention and control, vaccine research and development, and assistance to promote the fair and reasonable distribution of vaccines, and improve the accessibility and affordability of vaccines for developing countries. Cooperating to fight the epidemic injects impetus.

In the face of the epidemic, the BRICS countries actively maintain information exchange and anti-epidemic cooperation. Since 2020, the BRICS countries have successively held special foreign ministers’ meetings in response to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, video conferences with senior health officials, etc., to share health emergency mechanisms, epidemic prevention and control and treatment experience in a timely manner. At the same time, vaccine assistance and vaccine research and development cooperation among the five countries are progressing smoothly. Chinese companies are actively cooperating with partners such as Russia and Brazil to carry out Phase III clinical trials of vaccines. In May 2021, China announced the establishment of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center to promote joint R&D and testing of vaccines in the five countries, cooperative factory building, authorized production, and mutual recognition of standards.

Alexei Maslov, acting director of the Far East Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that while the threat of the new crown epidemic still exists, the BRICS mechanism can unite member states through specific anti-epidemic cooperation. This time the leaders of the BRICS countries discussed joint action plans to deal with current challenges, including the epidemic as well as such threats that may arise in the future. The BRICS member states will exchange information on the epidemic itself and focus on relevant research on the global epidemic situation to further deepen mutual cooperation.

David Monyae, director of the Africa-China Studies Center at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, believes that China is the first country to help Africa develop epidemic prevention and control. From epidemic prevention materials to treatment experience to vaccine assistance and supply, China provides African countries with a full range of Support and assistance. South Africa and other African countries highly appraise China's efforts in supporting the global fight against the epidemic, and firmly oppose the politicization of virus traceability.

Promote better global governance

Multilateralism is an important cornerstone of the current international system. The BRICS cooperation mechanism has increasingly become an important platform for building consensus and promoting multilateral cooperation. In June 2021, the "Joint Statement of the BRICS Countries on Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral System" reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and emphasized the establishment of a community of shared future for mankind on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation. I have seen the significance of BRICS cooperation.

Kashin, a senior researcher at the Far East Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pointed out that the leaders of the BRICS countries reiterated their commitment to practice multilateralism and made contributions to safeguarding the development rights and space of emerging markets and developing countries. He said that in the past 15 years, the "circle of friends" in the BRICS countries has been expanding and the areas of cooperation have gradually expanded. In the context of the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, the BRIC countries have become an important international force that truly practices multilateralism and promotes the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.

Ana Garcia, director of Brazil's BRICS Policy Research Center, said that the repeated epidemics have slowed the recovery of the global economy, and the rise of protectionism and unilateralism has made international cooperation more difficult. BRICS cooperation is committed to maintaining multilateralism and promoting multilateral cooperation. During the epidemic prevention and control period, it fully demonstrated the "BRIC power" and is an important platform to enhance the international status of emerging markets and developing countries. Eye-catching. "China plays an important role in the BRICS cooperation mechanism, and it is expected that China will continue to contribute more to the maintenance of regional peace and stability and the practice of multilateralism."

Madhav Narapat, a professor of geopolitics at Manipah University in India, said that over the 15 years of BRICS cooperation, the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS New Development Bank have been established, operating well, and have become more and more extensive. The number of BRICS partnerships, member-state cooperation mechanisms and non-governmental exchange platforms are also increasing. Thanks to the "BRIC+" model proposed by China, more and more countries are cooperating with the BRIC countries, highlighting the prospects for the development of multilateralism.

Yu Hong, a senior researcher at the Institute of East Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, said that the BRICS countries have become an important force that cannot be ignored on the international stage. Supporting multilateralism and participating in global governance are the common aspirations of the BRICS countries. The BRICS cooperation mechanism is conducive to consolidating multilateralism and promoting the reform of the global governance system. It is hoped that the BRICS countries can further strengthen cooperation in the future to promote the continuous development of economic globalization and regional economic integration.

China's imprint has become more profound and eye-catching

The international community generally believes that in this meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward China's initiatives and announced pragmatic measures to promote BRICS cooperation, injecting new impetus into BRICS cooperation and bringing strong confidence in promoting global economic recovery.

Alexander Naumov, associate professor of the Department of State Administration of Moscow University and coordinator of the "Inter-academic BRIC Research Center", believes that under the epidemic, the foundation for the recovery of the world economy is not yet solid, and protectionism and anti-globalization are still on the rise. In his speech, President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to promote open and innovative growth, help the stable recovery of the world economy, maintain the multilateral trading system based on the World Trade Organization, let the latest achievements of scientific and technological development benefit all countries, and promote economic globalization toward a more open and Development in the direction of inclusiveness, inclusiveness, balance, and win-win results plays a vital role in promoting the recovery of the world economy and narrowing the development gap. "China continues to play the role of the ‘power engine’ driving world economic growth and the ‘leader’ of global innovation, becoming the backbone of the BRICS cooperation mechanism.”

Madhav Narapat stated that President Xi Jinping clearly pointed out in his speech that the BRICS countries should promote the practice of true multilateralism, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and safeguard the international system with the UN as the core and the international law as the foundation. International order. The New Delhi Declaration once again reaffirmed that the BRICS countries support multilateralism and are committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Kashin said that President Xi Jinping’s speech clarified the connotation of true multilateralism, put forward the fundamental plan to maintain peace and tranquility in the world, made a stand on major issues concerning the future and destiny of mankind, and injected more stability into a world full of uncertainties. .

Tursunali Kuzyev, a professor at the University of Journalism and Mass Communication of Uzbekistan, believes that President Xi Jinping’s speech is of great significance to the current global challenges. BRICS cooperation has become a model of cooperation between emerging market countries and developing countries. It is believed that in the future, BRICS countries will show responsibility, jointly promote the practice of true multilateralism, promote global solidarity in the fight against the epidemic, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

In 2022, China will host the 14th meeting of the leaders of the BRICS countries. China will work with BRICS partners to comprehensively deepen cooperation in various fields, build closer and more pragmatic partnerships, respond to common challenges, and create a better future. Editor/Tian Zengpeng