Xi’s trip to safeguard an open global economy

President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visits to the United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Rwanda, South Africa and Mauritius will enhance China’s bilateral ties with these Middle East and African countries, and his scheduled attendance at the 10th BRICS summit from July 25 to 27 in Johannesburg will send an unmistakable message to the outside world that China remains committed to deepening cooperation with emerging markets. At the BRICS summit, Xi is expected to elaborate on China’s expectations for the meeting, including strengthening the solidarity and cooperation of the bloc, grasping the opportunities of the new technological revolution and safeguarding multilateralism and improving the global governance system.

As the world is grappling with the United States’ unilateralism and isolationism as well as a backlash against globalization, there are high expectations that BRICS will send a message of solidarity in opposing Washington’s attack on global trade and uphold more inclusive globalization.

Solidarity among the members of BRICS, and their leaders’ unanimous endorsement of multilateralism and free trade will help boost confidence in the global economic recovery and reinforce the bloc’s role in promoting global growth.

Over the years, BRICS, which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has blazed new trails and stood out among other regional and global platforms for its dedication to forging reciprocal and win-win cooperation. It has become an important force in driving the wheels of the world economy and pushing forward reforms in global governance.

With many Western countries facing a rising trend of populism and polarization in their societies, emerging markets are turning to China as an example of an alternative development model.

China has repeatedly said it is willing to share its experience and perspectives on global development with other countries. It has contributed its ideas and wisdom to BRICS’s development, deeming it a crucial platform for the world to resist disruptions from trade protectionism and isolationism.

Through its engagement with emerging and developing countries, China has breathed fresh air into international relations and initiated a new model of international cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, win-win cooperation and common development.

Last year, China successfully hosted the BRICS summit in Xiamen and helped chart the future for the second “golden decade” of BRICS cooperation. It is believed the Johannesburg summit, with the theme “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution”, will continue the momentum of cooperation from the Xiamen summit.