BRICS countries agree to strengthen collaboration to address global challenges

The five BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – agreed to deepen strategic cooperation with the evolution of the international landscape. China says BRICS should act as the stabilizer for the current situation and a booster for development.

The BRICS sherpas (see note below) have agreed to further strengthen solidarity and cooperation to address multiple challenges the globe is currently facing, including the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recovery.

The pledge came as the second BRICS sherpas’ meeting in 2022 was held from Tuesday to Wednesday through a videolink, Xinhua news agency reported. The meeting was chaired by Ma Zhaoxu, sherpa for BRICS affairs and Vice Foreign Minister of China, and attended by sherpas of Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa and representatives of relevant Chinese departments.

Noting that achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals faces new risks and challenges, he said BRICS countries should deepen strategic partnership, contribute solutions for maintaining fairness and justice, inject strength into the stability of the global market, build a defence line for the joint fight against the pandemic, and provide impetus for international development cooperation.

As the BRICS presidency this year, China looks forward to working with BRICS partners to continue to strengthen communication and coordination, deepen practical cooperation, and ensure the success of the summit, Ma added.The other Sherpas highly appreciated China’s leading role as the presidency, fully affirmed the achievements and progress of BRICS cooperation in various fields this year, and expressed that they will continue to support the work of the Chinese presidency.

All parties emphasised that the world is currently facing multiple challenges such as the pandemic, weak economic recovery, and the Ukraine crisis. They agreed that BRICS countries should further strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and make greater contributions to improving global governance, promoting economic recovery, implementing the 2030 sustainable development goals and fighting the pandemic.

What Are Sherpas? BRICS

Sherpa is a personal representative of the head of state or government, preparing an international summit like G7 and G20 summits.Sherpa usually refers to “Sherpas for G7 summit” but this designation can be extended to different regular conferences which require the participation of the head of state.For instance, BRICS Sherpas’ denotes representatives of BRICS Nation. Sherpa is generally quite influential even though they do not have the authority to make a final decision over any agreement.The name Sherpas is derived from “Sherpa people” who are Nepalese ethnic groups.They serve as guides and porters across the Himalayas. Thus, designating grouping as Sherpa refers to the fact that, Sherpa clears the way for the head of state at the major summit.

Source: Xinhua via NewsWire, April 13, 2022