This is a milestone moment——

On the morning of August 24 local time, President Xi Jinping attended the special press conference of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting announced that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Iran and Ethiopia were invited to officially become members of the BRICS family. President Xi Jinping congratulated these countries.

On the morning of August 24 local time, President Xi Jinping attended the special press conference of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. The meeting announced that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Iran and Ethiopia were invited to officially become members of the BRICS family. This is Xi Jinping's important speech. Photographed by Xie Huanchi, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency

This is another expansion of the BRICS family after South Africa officially became the fifth member of the BRICS cooperation mechanism more than a decade ago.

　　 (I)

"Enlargement" is one of the topics that attracted much attention during the BRICS Summit. Early on the 24th, journalists from all over the world swarmed into the Shanteng Convention Center in Johannesburg, waiting for the announcement of the "expansion" results.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism was born in the trend of the times when emerging market countries and developing countries rose in groups. Over the past 17 years, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has conformed to the historical trend, demonstrated its vitality, and has increasingly become a constructive force to promote world economic growth, improve global governance, and promote the democratization of international relations.

President Xi Jinping once pointed out that "BRICS countries are not closed clubs, nor are they exclusive" small circles ", but a large family of mutual help and good partners for win-win cooperation."

Adhering to the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has become more and more vital and influential. Many countries hope to open the "BRICS door" and participate in BRICS cooperation. It is reported that, including the six countries invited to join the BRICS family this time, more than 40 countries have expressed their desire to join in varying degrees, and more than 20 countries have submitted formal applications.

This fully reflects the common aspiration of developing countries to promote unity and self-improvement, defend multilateralism, safeguard international fairness and justice, and improve global governance under the situation of accelerated evolution of the world's unprecedented changes in a century.

　　 (II)

China has always been an active promoter of BRICS expansion. This round of expansion was launched during China's presidency of the BRICS countries last year.

On June 23, 2022, at the 14th BRICS Summit, President Xi Jinping made it clear that:

"In recent years, many countries have proposed to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism. The introduction of new blood will bring new vitality to the BRICS cooperation, and will also enhance the representation and influence of the BRICS countries. This year, we have held in-depth discussions on the issue of expanding the membership on different occasions. We should promote this process and let like-minded partners join the BRICS family at an early date."

Since then, in bilateral and multilateral diplomatic activities, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly talked about promoting the process of BRICS membership expansion.

On August 22 this year, in his speech to the closing ceremony of the 2023 BRICS Business Forum, President Xi Jinping said: "I am glad to see that more than 20 countries are knocking at the door of the BRICS, and China sincerely welcomes you to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism!"

On the 23rd, when attending the 15th BRICS Leaders' Meeting, President Xi Jinping stressed that we should accelerate the process of membership expansion, allow more countries to join the BRICS family, pool wisdom and strength, and promote global governance towards a more just and reasonable direction.

Through the joint efforts of all parties, the BRICS Summit decided to expand its membership, which is a historic event. The new members are all countries with important influence. It is believed that they will inject new vitality into the BRICS cooperation mechanism, further strengthen the power of world peace and development, and have a major impact on the world.

　　 (III)

During the BRICS Summit, under the "BRICS+" model, South Africa held a dialogue between BRICS leaders and African countries and other emerging markets and developing countries. Dozens of leaders or representatives from all regions of the world, as well as the Secretary General of the United Nations, the President of the New Development Bank and other international and regional organizations attended.

In 2017, President Xi Jinping put forward the concept of "BRICS+" at the BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Xiamen, aiming to invite more emerging market countries and developing countries to join the cause of solidarity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results and achieve common development and prosperity on the basis of BRICS cooperation.

The grand occasion of the "BRICS+" Leaders' Dialogue in Johannesburg highlights that the "BRICS+" advocated by China conforms to the aspirations of people all over the world to seek peace, development and cooperation, and is growing vigorously.

In today's world, unilateralism, hegemonism, camp confrontation, and zero sum game are surging against the current, causing the international community to be highly vigilant. In the face of a troubled world, China firmly stands on the right side of history, adheres to the principle of "the journey of the road, the world is the public", and promotes the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, when BRICS countries and more than 50 countries gather in South Africa, it is not to choose sides or engage in camp confrontation, but to create a grand pattern of peaceful development.

Planning: Ni Siyi, Huo Xiaoguang

Supervised by: Zhang Xiaosong, Lu Xiangming, Han Mo

Lead Writers: Yang Yijun, Zhu Chao, Liu Wanli

Coordinator: Liu Hua, Zhang Weimin, Wang Xuan

Vision | Editor: Bao Yuhan, Jia Yining

Jointly produced by the domestic and international departments of Xinhua News Agency

Produced by the first studio of Xinhua News Agency