Xi’s call to BRICS member countries to reject ‘protectionism’

Commenting on the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said the ongoing war in West Asia is not in favour of the common interests of the international community. He also commented that this war is bringing serious damages for the people of that region.

Indian media has informed that Xi said these words in his speech given at the BRICS summit that started in New Delhi, the capital of India, on Saturday.

In the speech published in Chinese state media Xi said China is ready to work with the other member countries of BRICS to play an appropriate role in establishing peace and stability in West Asia and the Persian Gulf region.

He said the ongoing war is the cause of serious damages for the people of the entire region and it is not in favour of the common interests of the international community.

Xi called on the member countries of BRICS to reject all kinds of ‘protectionism’. He said the multilateral trading system built centering the World Trade Organization must be supported and all kinds of protectionist policies must be rejected.

At the same time the Chinese President called on the member countries of BRICS to oppose the violation of sovereignty.

Xi Jinping, who has gone on a visit to India after nearly seven years, has also proposed to further deepen cooperation on artificial intelligence among the BRICS countries. He emphasised advancing industrialisation by utilising this new technology.

Drawing the context of the punitive tariff policy of US President Donald Trump, Xi called on the member countries of BRICS to oppose the arbitrary imposition of tariffs.

Xi joined the BRICS summit that started at Bharat Mandapam conference centre in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon. The president of the summit India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him. The two leaders are scheduled to sit for a bilateral meeting in the evening of the same day on the sidelines of the summit.