Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that cooperation among BRICS countries is conducive to a more balanced world economy and the improvement of global economic governance.

Xi made the remarks in a joint interview with Xinhua and other media outlets from BRICS countries.

The BRICS countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have become an important force in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, Xi was quoted as saying by the Xinhua News Agency.

Global economic governance, Xi said, must reflect the profound changes in the global economic landscape, and the representation and the voice of emerging markets and developing countries should be raised.

The newly-elected president of China is scheduled to attend the fifth BRICS summit set for March 26-27 in Durban, South Africa.

He said China is expecting the summit to send positive messages of unity, cooperation and win-win to the international community.

It is the first time a BRICS summit will be held on the African continent, with the cooperation between the BRICS countries and Africa high on the agenda.

Xi said both China and Africa are of the developing world and share broad common interests. He pledged Beijing will continue its role as a staunch supporter of Africa's development.

In addition to attending the BRICS summit, Xi is also due to visit Russia, Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo between March 22 and 30 on his first overseas tour since he took office last week, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

The first leg of his trip is to Russia, which Xi said reflects the high level and special nature of the comprehensive strategic partnership that exists between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping said at a joint press conference in Beijing with Russian Ambassador to China Sergey Razov that China and Russia will issue a joint statement during Xi's trip, which will become a milestone in the development of China-Russia ties.

"China and Russia will also voice their position on some of the major global issues in the statement," Cheng said.

Analysts said China and Russia share common interests on issues such as Syria, Iran and North Korea.

"Both China and Russia have a responsibility to safeguard the UN charter and principles on issues such as Syria," said Wu Enyuan, a researcher on Russia studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

China and Russia have both voiced objection to foreign intervention in Syria.

On bilateral issues, the challenge for the two neighbors is how to convert their political advantages into bigger economic benefits.

Global Times - Xinhua