Xi Jinping Attends the 12th BRICS Summit and Delivers Keynote Speech

On the evening of November 17, 2020, the 12th BRICS Summit was held via video link. It was chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and attended by President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro.

Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech entitled "Fighting COVID-19 in Solidarity and Advancing BRICS Cooperation through Concerted Efforts". He pointed out right now the world is caught between a pandemic of the century and momentous changes never seen in the last one hundred years. The international landscape keeps evolving in profound ways. Human society is going through the most serious pandemic in the past century. The world economy is witnessing the worst recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s. At such a critical moment, we are meeting to discuss our joint response to COVID-19. The meeting has thus taken on a special significance. We remain convinced that the theme of our times, peace and development, has not changed, and that the trend toward multipolarity and economic globalization cannot be turned around. We must keep people's welfare close to heart and pursue the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. Through concrete actions, we will contribute our share to making the world a better place for everyone.

First, we need to uphold multilateralism and safeguard peace and stability in our world. Facing the choice between multilateralism and unilateralism, and between justice and hegemony, BRICS countries must stand up for equity and justice in the world. We must hold high the banner of multilateralism, and defend the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We must endeavor to safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law. It is important to respect each other's choices of social system, economic model and development path consistent with their national conditions. We need to champion the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We need to work through consultation and negotiation to address differences. We need to oppose interference in others' internal affairs, as well as unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. With concerted efforts, we will foster a peaceful and stable environment for development.

Second, we need to enhance solidarity and coordination, and come together to meet the COVID-19 challenge. It is important to step up international coordination and response, and support the WHO's crucial leadership role in this endeavor. China will actively consider providing vaccines to BRICS countries where there is a need, and support the development of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center. China proposes to convene a BRICS symposium on traditional medicine to explore its role in coronavirus prevention and treatment. We need to overcome division with unity and replace bias with reason, in order to pool the maximum global synergy to beat the virus.

Third, we need to pursue openness and innovation, and promote global economic recovery. We need to stabilize the economy while controlling the pandemic. We need to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, follow through on the initiative on facilitating cross-border flow of people and goods, and keep industrial and supply chains safe and open. The practice of using the pandemic to pursue "de-globalization" will end up hurting one's own interests and the common interests of all. We need to stand firm for building an open world economy, and reject abuse of the "national security" concept for protectionist purposes. We need to strengthen cooperation on scientific and technological innovation, and nurture an open, fair, equitable and nondiscriminatory business environment. China will open in Xiamen, Fujian Province a BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution innovation center. We look forward to the support from BRICS countries for the Global Initiative on Data Security launched by China.

Fourth, we need to prioritize people's livelihood, and promote sustainable global development. We need to place the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the heart of international development cooperation. More resources must be channeled to poverty reduction, education, health and infrastructure development. We need to support the UN's coordinating role and foster global development partnerships that are more equal and balanced, so that the fruits of development will spread to more developing countries and the needs of underprivileged groups will be better addressed.

Fifth, we need to pursue green and low-carbon development, and strive for harmony between man and nature. We need to implement the Paris Agreement in good faith, stick to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and provide more help to developing countries. China will scale up its nationally determined contributions. We have announced more forceful policies and measures to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. China will keep its promise.

Xi Jinping stressed that China will embark on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country. Based on a scientific analysis of the new stage of China's development, we will stay committed to the new development philosophy, and actively foster a new development paradigm. China will not shut its door of opening-up; it will embrace the world with more open arms. China will be more vigorous in integrating with the global market and will take greater initiative in deepening international cooperation. In so doing, China will create more opportunities and space for global recovery and growth.

Xi Jinping concluded by emphasizing that all of us are indeed passengers in the same boat. When the wind is strong and the tides are high, we must be even more focused on our direction. We must keep pace and work as a team to break the waves and navigate steadily toward a brighter future.

Based on the theme of "BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth", leaders of the BRICS countries discussed joint response to COVID-19, drew a blueprint for the future of BRICS, exchanged in-depth opinions on cooperation among BRICS countries and current international circumstances, and thus reached broad consensus.

Leaders of the BRICS countries said in face of the pandemic, BRICS countries need to promote solidarity and mutual assistance, enhance cooperation on drugs and vaccine development, support the WHO's coordinating role, oppose the acts of politicizing the pandemic, maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains and facilitate world economic recovery and growth. We need to advance economic partnership among BRICS countries, deepen practical cooperation on trade and investment, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, energy and climate change. We need to strengthen our political and security cooperation, including anti-terrorism, anti-corruption, outer space security and cyber security cooperation. We need to respect each other's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and resolve disputes by peaceful means. We need to expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation and deepen people-to-people friendship. Leaders agreed to continue their close communication on major international and regional issues, uphold multilateralism, improve global governance, safeguard the UN-centered international order and the multilateral trading system represented by the WTO, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Leaders of the BRICS countries also listened to the report of the heads of various BRICS mechanisms.

The 12th BRICS Summit Moscow Declaration was adopted at the meeting.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others attended the meeting.