BRICS nations should strengthen security cooperation: Chinese state councilor

CAPE TOWN, Dec. 6 -- Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said on Friday that BRICS nations should strengthen cooperation and coordination to play their roles in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability.

Yang made the remarks when attending a meeting of BRICS senior representatives on national security held in South Africa's Cape Town, saying that the world is undergoing profound and complicated changes and facing new security challenges.

He also said cyber and information security is vital to national security and social stability, and thus BRICS members should jointly promote information security, and solve cyber disputes through negotiation.

BRICS countries should strengthen cooperation on cyber security and set up platforms for exchanges, he added.

BRICS nations refer to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Yang also met with representatives from Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, pledging to enhance bilateral ties with each side.

When meeting with Shivshankar Menon, India's national security advisor, Yang said China hoped the two sides would continue to strengthen cooperation and communication, enhance coordination in regional and international affairs and work together to maintain peace in the border areas.

Menon hoped the China and India could maintain high-level exchanges, cement various negotiation mechanisms, expand cooperation to push forward the bilateral relations to a higher level.

During talks with Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the security council of Russia, Yang hoped the two sides to maintain a sound momentum of high-level exchanges, actively implement the consensus reached by leaders of both countries and advance China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Patrushev said Russia is willing to maintain close exchanges and consultations with China, deepen security cooperation and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

China is willing to enhance strategic coordination and deepen pragmatic cooperation with South Africa and work together to push forward China-Africa ties and South-South cooperation, Yang told State Security Minister of South Africa Siyabonga Cwele.

China would strengthen cooperation with Brazil in various areas and coordination in international affairs, Yang said to Marcelo Neri, minister of strategic affairs of Brazil.