Signs of the 16th BRICS Summit display at the Kazan Kremlin in Kazan, Russia, on October 20, 2024. The summit will be held in the city from October 22 to 24. Photo: He Zhuoqian/Global Times

Editor's note:

The 16th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in Kazan, Russia from October 22-24, attracting global attention as it marks the first summit after the organization's expansion. The Global Times (GT) spoke with Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui (Zhang) on topics such as China's expectations for the upcoming summit, strategic coordination between China and Russia in international affairs, and BRICS's role in mediating the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. 

China hopes that this summit, the first after the organization's expansion, will fully reflect friendship and unity, gather consensus from all parties, and outline a development blueprint for the BRICS mechanism, said Zhang, noting that China supports BRICS in keeping its doors open for development and embracing cooperation, as well as in steadily advancing the expansion process and continuously expanding "BRICS Plus" cooperation.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui Photo: Courtesy of Chinese Embassy in Russia

GT: The BRICS Summit is to be held in Kazan, Russia, marking the first summit since the expansion of BRICS. How do you evaluate the significance of this meeting? What key issues is China particularly concerned about?

Zhang: The BRICS Summit in Kazan is the first summit of BRICS after its expansion, attracting global attention and holding significant importance. 

China hopes that this summit will fully reflect friendship and unity, gather consensus from all parties, and outline a development blueprint for the BRICS mechanism. China supports Russia in being a good host and hopes that all member countries will seize the opportunity to send a strong message to the world at this summit, advocating for fairness and justice, and promoting common development. In areas such as finance, artificial intelligence, and energy and minerals, they aim to achieve new landmark results, ensuring that the "greater BRICS cooperation" gets off to a good start. 

All parties should expedite the completion of the partnership country setup and implement the consensus reached by BRICS leaders at the 2023 Johannesburg Summit, injecting vitality and momentum into the development of the "greater BRICS."

GT: Amid the background of multiple challenges facing the global economy, how can BRICS countries better leverage their collective strength to promote global economic recovery and sustainable development?

Zhang: Currently, the international situation is characterized by a complex interplay of turmoil, with a loss of global order, and sluggish growth, while creating imbalanced development and a lack of focus in governance. As a leading group in the Global South, BRICS countries should embody the spirit of "self-improvement for the benefit of others and the common good," contributing to the promotion of a more equitable and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization. 

First, we should enhance the supporting role of trade cooperation. All parties need to fully leverage the advantages of the "greater BRICS" in terms of resources and markets to facilitate trade and investment, creating a large economic and trade market.

Second, we should emphasize the stabilizing role of financial cooperation. The proportion of domestic currency in investment and financing is continuously expanding. Countries should strive to promote breakthroughs in domestic currency settlement and cross-border payment cooperation, thereby maintaining international economic and financial stability.

Third, we should play a protective role in energy and food security cooperation. It is essential to explore the establishment of a more robust energy and food supply and demand system to ensure the security and smooth operation of global production and supply chains.

GT: The discussion about BRICS countries exploring the establishment of a common currency has been quite heated recently. What is your view on the prospects of BRICS countries promoting a common currency and reducing dependence on the US dollar? What role will China play in this process?

Zhang: As the overall strength of "Global South" countries continues to grow and their share in the global economy keeps increasing, there is an urgent need to promote reforms in the international financial and monetary system. This aims to enhance the representation and voice of developing countries and facilitate the continued diversification of the international monetary system, reflecting the pressing demands and common expectations of emerging economies and developing countries. 

China, as the world's largest goods trader and the largest developing country, has been steadily and prudently advancing the internationalization of the renminbi in recent years. The deeper participation of the renminbi in international trade helps showcase the dynamism and resilience of the Chinese economy to the world through currency valuation and trade settlement, thereby better playing a positive role in maintaining global economic stability.

GT: An increasing number of countries have expressed an interest in joining BRICS. How do you view the possibility of the further expansion of BRICS in the coming years? In the process of expansion, how can we ensure that the newly joined countries will maintain alignment with the existing BRICS members in terms of political, economic, and strategic goals?

Zhang: In 2023, BRICS made a historic step toward expansion, with an increasing number of countries expressing an interest in joining. This fully demonstrates the strong vitality and appeal of the BRICS mechanism. 

China supports BRICS in keeping its doors open for development and embracing cooperation, as well as in steadily advancing the expansion process and continuously expanding "BRICS Plus" cooperation. This aims to lead the wave of change in the era and the trend of historical world development, promoting the establishment of a more just and reasonable international order. 

Both new and old BRICS members are like-minded partners, upholding the BRICS spirit centered on openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation. We believe that new members will quickly integrate into the BRICS family by actively participating in various activities under the BRICS framework, strengthening political, economic, and cultural exchanges, and sharing the opportunities and benefits brought by the "greater BRICS Cooperation."

GT: In recent years, the cooperation between China and Russia in international affairs has become increasingly close. What impact do you think this cooperation will have on the international order and the global governance system?

Zhang: Currently, the world is in turmoil, with frequent regional conflicts. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and responsible major powers, China and Russia stand at the forefront of building a community of shared future for mankind. 

They advocate for the practice of true multilateralism and persistently promote the multi-polarization of the world and the democratization of international relations. Russia highly appreciates and actively participates in the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China, and the continuous advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative and the integration of the Eurasian Economic Union. 

The two countries have maintained communication and coordinated positions on major international and regional issues, actively cooperating and closely aligning on hot topics such as human rights, global governance, and regional conflicts. The China-Russia partnership not only provides strong support for the revitalization and development of both sides but also plays an important role in maintaining the balance of international strategic power, and ensuring regional and global peace and stability.

GT: The economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia has made significant progress. Could you please provide an overview of the current cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, infrastructure, technology, and finance? What new cooperation opportunities might arise in the future?

Zhang: The economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia is continuously deepening, advancing in both quantity and quality. 

First, the scale of goods trade has significantly increased. China has maintained its position as Russia's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years. In 2023, bilateral trade overcame adverse external factors and achieved the target of $200 billion set by the two heads of state ahead of schedule. From January to September this year, the trade volume between China and Russia reached $180.357 billion, an increase of 2 percent year-on-year.

Second, the trade structure is continuously optimized. The role of energy trade as a "ballast" has become increasingly prominent. More and more Russian agricultural products are appearing on Chinese dining tables, while Chinese automobiles, home appliances, and other products are entering households across Russia.

Third, project cooperation is steadily advancing. Major project collaborations in the fields of energy, chemicals, aerospace, and connectivity are being successfully implemented. The Heihe-Blagoveshchensk cross-border highway bridge and the China-Russia Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye cross-border railway bridge have been successively opened to traffic, becoming "bridges of friendship and development" that benefit the people of both countries.

Fourth, cooperation between enterprises and localities is showing vitality. The number of mutual visits by delegations from enterprises and localities in both countries has surged, and Chinese enterprises are actively exploring localized production in Russia.

In the next step, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, both sides will implement a series of consensus reached and promote the relationship between China and Russia, as well as bilateral economic and trade cooperation, to new heights in the new era.

GT: How do you view China's role in promoting the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine crisis? What efforts will China and the BRICS mechanism make next to contribute to the resolution of the conflict, and what plans will they promote?

Zhang: China has consistently maintained an objective and fair stance on the Ukraine crisis, always advocating for peace and promoting dialogue. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed four principles to prevent the Ukraine crisis, which collectively serve as the fundamental guideline for China's approach to the Ukraine crisis. 

Based on this, China has issued China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, and issued, with Brazil, a joint six-point consensus on the Ukraine issue.  China's proposals and mediation efforts have received widespread support from the international community, particularly from countries in the Global South.

In addressing the Ukraine crisis, BRICS countries and the Global South share similar positions, firmly standing on the side of peace, reconciliation, dialogue, and unity. During the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, China, Brazil, and other Global South countries jointly established "Friends for Peace," with the aim of upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, building consensus for a political resolution to the crisis, and contributing to the prospects for peace.

We hope to leverage the UN and welcome more like-minded countries, especially those from the Global South, to join us in voicing more objective, balanced, and rational perspectives in promoting a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis, thereby creating conditions and an atmosphere conducive to a ceasefire, ending hostilities, and resuming negotiations.