BRICS leaders say to continue to firmly oppose protectionism

BRICS leaders reaffirmed Monday they remained committed to an open and inclusive world economy and firmly opposed protectionism.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) and other leaders of BRICS countries pose for a group photo before the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 4, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

"We emphasize the importance of an open and inclusive world economy enabling all countries and peoples to share in the benefits of globalization," said the BRICS Leaders Xiamen Declaration released after the ninth BRICS summit in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen.

"We will continue to firmly oppose protectionism. We recommit to our existing pledge for both standstill and rollback of protectionist measures and we call upon other countries to join us in that commitment," it said.

The five BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa-- said they remained firmly committed to a rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system as embodied in the WTO.