China to hold next BRICS Summit in 2022

China has expressed gratitude to India for successfully hosting 13th BRICS Summit and BRICS Cooperation in the last one year under India’s chairship which has seen several new initiatives. In response to a media query at a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China fully recognizes the contribution of BRICS under India’s chairship in the last one year and expresses gratitude to India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 13th BRICS Summit virtually on Thursday which saw many new initiatives including the first BRICS Ministerial Joint Statement on multilateral reforms; a BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan in addition to discussion on the post-COVID global recovery.

Addressing the 13th BRICS summit via video link, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the five-member bloc should consolidate their strategic partnership, support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and jointly safeguard their sovereignty, security and development interests. Xi, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China said the BRICS countries have become an important force on the international stage to be reckoned with.

The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have supported multilateralism and taken part in global governance in the spirit of equity, justice, and mutual assistance, he said. On the issue of terrorism, President Xi said the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan, adopted earlier this year, should be implemented in real earnest.

Xi also



made five proposals which included strengthening public health cooperation, strengthen international cooperation on vaccines, strengthen economic cooperation, strengthen political and security cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges in the spirit of mutual learning.

Under the current circumstances, it is important for BRICS countries to stay resolved, strengthen unity and further enhance the quality of practical cooperation, Xi said. BRICS gives a unique platform to China to engage with countries in different continents as it faces a tough United States in areas spanning from trade to Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, South China Sea and technology etc. 

With India, China has not yet fully disengaged from all the friction points at LAC in eastern Ladakh but tensions have lowered after many rounds of talks since the border standoff began last year in May.

China will take over the BRICS chairship and host the 14th BRICS summit next year, Xi said, adding that Beijing looks forward to working with the BRICS partners to deepen cooperation in all areas and build a closer and more results-oriented partnership to meet common challenges and create a better future. 

The 13th summit was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro adopted “New Delhi Declaration”. The theme of the summit was “Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus.” The summit this year coincides with the 15th anniversary of the BRICS.