China details agenda for BRICS Summit

The 9th BRICS summit will be held in Xiamen from Sept. 3 to 5, 2017.[Photo: people.cn]

Chinese authorities have unveiled a detailed agenda for the upcoming BRICS Summit, as well as the major topics to be discussed during the sessions, which start Sunday.

This year's summit is expected to set the direction for the development of the bloc in its "second golden decade" after coming into form over 10 years ago.

Under the theme of "Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future," the events in Xiamen will gather the leaders of the five BRICS member states, as well as five non-BRICS countries.

High on the agenda is the BRICS Summit and the Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says President Xi Jinping will chair both events, with cooperation at the center of the discussions.

"President Xi Jinping will have in-depth exchanges on BRICS cooperation and issues of common concern with other leaders of BRICS countries. China will also hold the Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries. Leaders from the five BRICS countries, as well as Egypt, Guinea, Mexico, Tajikistan and Thailand will also gather in Xiamen to discuss cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries."

Asked about the agenda for the BRICS leaders, Wang Yi says the topics will vary.

"Main topics of the small gatherings include global economic trends, global economic governance, hot international and regional issues, national security and development. Large gatherings will focus on deepening BRICS cooperation, carrying out people-to-people exchanges and promoting our internal mechanisms as a group. Leaders are also going to pass the Xiamen Declaration, which will be a consensus reached among the leaders of the five countries."

The blog took shape back in 2006 and originally grouped Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Today, BRIC is now BRICS thanks to the inclusion of South Africa in 2010.

Over the past few years, BRICS leaders say the group has developed into an important force in global governance.

In a bid to expand its partnerships, the idea of BRICS Plus was floated earlier this year, leading to the creation of what will be the Dialogue of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries.

Wang Yi says a "chairman's statement" will be issued following the dialogue by Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting it will inject impetus into economic globalization and cooperation among emerging markets.

The Chinese Foreign Minister also says this year's event in Xiamen will also include the largest BRICS business forum ever held in the bloc's history.

"President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum and deliver a keynote speech that will review the decade-long development of the BRICS grouping, summarize the experience of BRICS cooperation and expand on potential future development. Leaders from other countries will also deliver speeches at the forum."

According to the schedule, President Xi Jinping will also hold a news conference before the summit wraps up on Tuesday.