SE China's Fujian province is set for BRICS summit

The 9th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economic bloc leaders’ summit be held from September 3-5, in Xiamen, Fujian province on China’s southeastern coast. As part of preparations for the important gathering, the Fujian Foreign Affairs Office is organising a press tour of the province for 15 international journalists from July 24-28.

Foreign journalists wait at Beijing Capital International Airport before departure for Fuzhou, Fujian province

10 of the journalists from Africa are currently participating in the 2017 media exchange programme with the China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC, Beijing; while the remaining five are Beijing-based correspondents for Russian, German and Polish media. The aim of the trip is to present the rich coastal province to the world, especially BRICS summit participants, prospective investors and tourists.

Africa’s expectations from BRICS

“BRICS concerns Africa because South Africa is a member. As Africans, we expect the BRICS Bank to save as alternative to the IMF by granting loans at lower interests. We hope to see this bank help Africa develop its infrastructure,” said Aly Diouf, reporter with Le Soleil, a Senegalese state-owned daily.

“I know the forthcoming BRICS summit is part of the Belt and Road Initiative. The trip to Fujian province will enable me to learn about preparations for next September’s BRICS summit. Africa’s major challenges now are development of infrastructure and alleviating poverty. I will like to see these issues discussed at the summit,” Diouf added.

“I would like to know more about Fujian province, especially about the city of Xiamen that will host the BRICS summit in September. I will also like to see developments in the region because BRICS is so important. Concerning the summit, I will like to see how China and India handle their border disagreement and move forward as allies,” said Rafal Tomanski, Beijing correspondent of the Polish Press Agency.

“This is more so because China and India are two very big and important countries. Working on the basis of mutual understanding, trust and win-win cooperation is therefore very important. Fujian province is renowned for its history – the Chinese who left there in earlier centuries created China towns in foreign lands. I would like to see the province’s cultural and tourist sites,” Tomanski noted.

Fujian is set for BRICS summit

Fujian is one of China's leading tea producing provinces

“They are going to show us developments in preparation for the BRICS summit. The summit ties in with the Belt and Road Initiative. I was in Fujian province last month for the BRICS forum for politicians, academics, civil society and business people in preparation for the summit. I saw the high level of preparations for September’s summit. I look forward to the trip, especially the businesses and tourist attractions we will visit,” commented Melanie Peters, Online editor of South Africa’s Weekend Argus.

According to the programme, the journalists arrived at the Fuzhou Changle international airport, Fujian province, from Beijing in the afternoon of July 24. They will visit the China-ASEAN marine product exchange and Three Lanes and Seven Alleys historical street in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian. They will also meet Fujian Foreign Office officials. Other highlights of the tour include visits to cultural and industrial sites in Quanzhou, Zhangzhou and Xiamen cities, with the final lap being a visit to the cozy Gulangyu island.

The Gulangyu island

Summit theme, issues for discussion

As chair of the BRICS 2017 presidency, China looks forward to working with other member countries to reach consensus and chart the blueprint for enhanced cooperation. This year’s summit theme is, “BRICS: Stronger partnership for a brighter future.” Chinese President, Xi Jinping, last January 1 wrote to his Brazilian, Russian, Indian and South African counterparts, proposing four ideas for discussion at September’s gathering.

To this end, the Xiamen summit is expected to deepen cooperation in promoting common development, strengthen global governance by jointly addressing challenges, carry out people-to-people and cultural exchanges to consolidate public opinion, and promote mechanisms for forging broader partnerships.

What is BRICS?

BRICS comprises five major emerging economies that make up 43 percent of the world’s population, 30 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 17 percent of world trade. Beginning in 2006 as informal meetings amongst foreign ministers on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meetings, BRICS has since become an annual leaders’ affair. Meanwhile, ministers from member states in charge of various domains continue to meet regularly to discuss matters of common interest. South Africa joined the bloc in 2010.

BRICS leaders committed to growth

BRICS leaders meet on July 7 in Hamburg, Germany on the sidelines of the G20 summit to prepare this year's meeting in Xiamen, Fujian province

Rising from an informal meeting on July 7 in Hamburg, Germany, on the margins of G20 summit, BRICS leaders called on the international community to ensure the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change according to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change principles. They committed to take stock of BRICS’ cooperation experience and build on existing agreements. They expressed hope to further enhance the bloc’s strategic partnership in all priority cooperation areas. Leaders also expressed appreciation and full support to China’s BRICS chairmanship as they look forward to a successful hosting of 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen.

BRICS has witnessed growth is politics, economy, and people-to-people and cultural engagement. The summit has constantly taken new steps to inject new impetus to cooperation. BRICS countries are today recognized as models of cooperation amongst emerging markets and developing countries. They bring benefits to their people and make important contributions to boosting world economy, improving global governance and democratizing international relations.

Kimeng Hilton Ndukong is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently on media attachment with People’s Daily Online in English.