CONTEMPORARY WORLD

BRICS POLITICAL PARTIES, THINK TANKS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS TO CEMENT COOPERATION

CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee,delivers a keynote speech on the opening ceremony of BRICS political parties, think tanks and civil society organizations forum, June 11,2017.

The BRICS political parties, think tanks and civil society organizations Forum was held in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China’s Fujian Province, June 11-12, 2017.

The forum drew over 400 participants from BRICS and other developing countries. Heads of political parties, think tanks and civil society organizations from nearly 30 countries attended the forum, such as Sergei Vladimirovich Zheleznyak, Deputy Secretary of the General Council of the Central Committee of the United Russia and former Deputy Chairman of State Duma of Russia, Ram Madhav, General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jessie Duarte, Deputy Secretary General of African National Congress of South Africa, Ibrahim Ibrahim, former South African Deputy Foreign Minister and Fikile Majola, Member of the Political Bureau of the South African Communist Party (SACP), Aquilino Pimentel, Philippine Senate president and president of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakang Bayan (PDP-Laban), Phankham Viphavanh, a member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (PRP) Central Committee and vice president of Laos, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, also member of the Standing Committee of Cambodian People’s Party.

The forum aims to build consensus and boost cooperation through in-depth exchanges, to offer proposals and create a sound environment for the Xiamen summit. It was sponsored by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the forum,entitled“Pooling Wisdom and Efforts Towards Common Development and a Brighter Future”.

Liu said the Ninth BRICS Summit, scheduled for September in Xiamen, Fujian Province, will be another important global conference following the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing in May.

In a letter sent to other BRICS leaders after China took the BRICS rotating presidency on Jan. 1, 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will work with other BRICS countries to make the Xiamen summit a success and move forward BRICS cooperation to a new level, in accordance with an open, inclusive and win-win BRICS spirit.

“We hope this forum will pool more wisdom and efforts for the Xiamen summit and future BRICS cooperation,” Liu said.

Liu said over the past ten years, BRICS cooperation has achieved remarkable progress and the group has become an important platform for cooperation among emerging economies and developing countries, as well as a great force in improving global governance, promoting global economic growth and democracy in international relations.

He urged BRICS political parties, think tanks and civil society organizations to play their unique roles to guide BRICS cooperation, offer suggestions, jointly promote economic globalization, innovate cooperation measures, promote implementation of BRICS cooperation projects, and consolidate the social foundation for BRICS cooperation.

Liu called on them to advocate the idea of a community of shared future for mankind, plan for stronger BRICS cooperation, carry forward the open, inclusive and win-win BRICS spirit, respect each other’s concerns, and build a new model of BRICS win-win cooperation.

He hoped BRICS political parties, think tanks and civil society organizations would enhance cultural exchanges and dialogue, create new highlights in cultural exchange, and promote the building of cooperation mechanisms to create more effective BRICS cooperation.

During a two-day forum, discussions centered on ways to cement cooperation and share governance experience, and suggestions were offered for the Ninth BRICS Summit.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Song Tao, head of the International Department of CPC Central Committee, said closer BRICS cooperation calls for stronger confidence in reform and development, the pooling of wisdom to build consensus, a problem-oriented approach in innovation, a global vision to deepen partnership.

The BRICS Financial and Business Dialogue features fi nancial innovation for enhanced industrial cooperation, June 11, 2017.

“ Currently, BRICS cooperation is at a critical stage where it is confronted with both rare opportunities and complex challenges. “ Song said. He recommended that BRICS political parties, think tanks and civil society organizations should facilitate cooperation that will elevate BRICS members to their role as practitioner of the new type of globalization, spearhead of the new type of global governance and pioneer of a new type of South-South cooperation.

“BRICS should promote the Belt and Road Initiative, to inject new vitality to BRICS cooperation,” he said.

China hopes to work with other BRICS countries and developing countries to improve exchanges among BRICS political parties, think tanks and civil society organizations , Song said.

In the Fuzhou Initiative, released at the closing ceremony, attendees vowed to intensify policy communication, expand cooperation, and work more with other emerging markets and developing countries.

BRICS should boost political, cultural and security cooperation, have its voice heard on major international and regional issues, improve cyber security cooperation, enhance sharing intelligence and experience in countering terrorism, and jointly work toward combating extremism, separatism, narcotics, piracy and organized crimes, according to the document.

BRICS political parties and think tanks will enhance exchanges with parties of other emerging economies and developing countries, share experience and research outcomes, the initiative document continued.

BRICS civil society organizations should prioritize cooperation in poverty alleviation, health and environmental protection, promote the implementation of more projects with social and economic benefits, and make full use of new technology to build a network for interactions and cooperation, according to the initiative document.

10.19422/j.cnki.cn10-1398/d.2017.03.002