On the evening of June 23, 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the 14th BRICS Summit in Beijing via video link and delivered important remarks.
Amongst the dignitaries present were South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Elegant blooms adorned the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People. The national flags of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) were arranged neatly and echoed the colours of the BRICS logo. At about eight o’clock in the evening, the BRICS leaders took a virtual group photo and the meeting began.
In his remarks, Xi noted that over the past year, despite formidable and complex circumstances, BRICS countries have embraced the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, enhanced solidarity and coordination and jointly addressed difficulties. The BRICS mechanism, Xi added, has demonstrated resilience and vitality, even as he said that BRICS cooperation has achieved sound progress and results.
Xi further delivered an important speech titled “Fostering High-quality Partnership and Embarking on a New Journey of BRICS Cooperation.” In the speech, Xi pointed out that the world today is living through accelerating changes unseen in a century and continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They confront humanity with unprecedented challenges. Over the past 16 years, the giant ship of BRICS has sailed forward tenaciously against raging torrents and storms. Riding the wind and cleaving the waves, it has embarked on a righteous course of mutual support and win-win cooperation. Standing at the crossroads of history, we should both look back at the journey we have travelled and keep in mind why we established BRICS in the first place, and look forward to a shared future of a more comprehensive, close, practical and inclusive high-quality partnership so as to jointly embark on a new journey of BRICS cooperation,” Xi stated.
Among other issues, Xi emphasised on the need to uphold solidarity and safeguard world peace and tranquillity; uphold cooperation to boost development and jointly tackle risks and challenges, uphold the pioneering spirit and innovation and unleash the potential and vitality of cooperation and uphold openness and inclusiveness and pool collective wisdom and strength.
Xi stressed that as representatives of emerging markets and developing countries; the BRICS countries must make the right decision and take responsible actions at this critical juncture of history.
The leaders who attended the summit thanked China for hosting the event and the efforts it made for promoting BRICS cooperation. They believed that facing international uncertainties, BRICS countries should strengthen solidarity, carry forward the BRICS spirit, consolidate strategic partnership and jointly respond to various challenges so that BRICS cooperation can reach a new level and play a bigger role in international affairs.
Under the theme of “Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development,” leaders of the five countries held in-depth exchange of views on BRICS cooperation in various sectors and major issues of common concern and reached important consensus. Among others, they agreed on the need to stay committed to multilateralism, work for greater democracy in global governance, safeguard fairness and justice, and inject stability and positive energy into the turbulent international landscape. The 14th BRICS Summit Beijing Declaration was adopted and released at the event.
Wang Yi Chairs Dialogue of Foreign Ministers between BRICS and Emerging Markets and Developing Countries
On May 19, 2022, Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, chaired the ideo Dialogue of oreign Ministers between RICS and Emerging Markets and Developing Countries in Beijing. Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, was invited to attend the dialogue.
During the dialogue, Wang proposed three suggestions. First, he called for the need to uphold multilateralism. Secondly, Wang spoke on the need to persevere in focusing on development, saying that development is the common pursuit and the mission of global governance. Thirdly, Wang also called for the need to pursue win-win cooperation, stating that the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries has become an irreversible trend of the times.
According to Wang, “Developing countries have become an important engine driving world economic growth and a new force pushing he evolution of the international landscape, nd ave gradually transformed from followers of global governance to conscious promoters. In the past, developing countries joined hands in the struggle against imperialism and colonialism to usher in a new era of independent development. Today, we need to make concerted efforts to improve global governance and jointly strive for greater space for development. We need to uphold the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance, carry out South-South cooperation on a larger scale, in a wider area and at a deeper level, enhance the power of international discourse, agenda-setting and rule-making, and promote the development of global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction.”
Harmony in Coexistence
—First beam of Share Chinese Harmony Perform Nigeria-China Symphony
In 2005 when President Xi was the Party Chief of Zhejiang province, he proposed the idea, “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.” It has been mentioned by Xi many times, both inside and outside China, to attach importance to environment protection and green development.
The report delivered at the 18th CPC National Congress included ecological development as a major task in the country’s overall plan and proposed building a “beautiful China” as a grand goal for ecological progress.
Eco-civilization was also included in the CPC Constitution as a principle for development during the meeting. It was the first time in the world a ruling party had highlighted green development in its guidelines.
China’s efforts to promote green development have earned global recognition. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) decided to promote China’s philosophy of ecological progress in February 2013 and released a report on China’s strategies and practices in the field two years later.
Cui Jianchun, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, proposed the concept of Share Chinese Harmony and Perform Nigeria-China Symphony in April, 2022. Within this concept, “Harmony in Coexistence” is one of the main principles which coincides with Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization.
Wang Yi Attends the Launch of the Global Development Report
On June 20, 2022, State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, attended and addressed the launch of the Global Development Report via video link in Beijing. Wang emphasised that development is an eternal theme of humanity and a major yardstick of the progress of times.
Wang said: “Thanks to our joint efforts, the cause of global development has made encouraging progress. But it also faces unprecedented challenges brought about by the changes unseen in a century. The global pandemic, regional conflicts, major-power rivalry, backlash against globalization and other complicated factors are intertwining with each other. Global poverty reduction is gravely frustrated. Development is getting more and more marginalized on the international agenda.”
Wang further said the Global Development Initiative (GDI) is a rallying call to galvanize greater attention on development and bring it back to the center of the international agenda, which he added, offered a ‘fast track’ to promote development, as well as an effective platform for all parties to coordinate development policies and deepen practical cooperation.
“It provides strong boost to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as well as an impetus to pool resources, address difficulties holding back development and promote greater coordination and efficiency,” Wang stated.
Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Visits China
President Xi Jinping, on May 25, 2022, met via video link with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, in Beijing. Xi, while welcoming Bachelet to China, expounded on major issues regarding China’s human rights development in the context of China’s history and culture, and reaffirmed the principled position of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government in upholding and protecting human rights in all areas.
Xi stressed that on day one of its existence, the CPC identified as its founding mission, the pursuit of happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and has been working hard for the people’s interests over the past century. The people’s aspiration for a better life, Xi added, is what the Chinese people are striving for, saying that after decades of strenuous efforts, China has successfully found a path of human rights development in keeping with the trend of the times and China’s national reality.
President Xi pointed out that in terms of human rights protection, no one can claim perfection and there is always room for improvement.
Bachelet expressed appreciation to China for receiving her despite the COVID-19 challenge, the first visit to China by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in 17 years. She very much valued and cherished the visit and said she will have extensive engagements and direct communication with the Chinese government and people across different sectors. Bachelet also expressed confidence that the visit will give her a better understanding of China.
Dragon Boat Festival 2022
Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which is in late May or June on the Gregorian calendar. In 2022, Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 3 (Friday). Dragon Boat Festival is one of the four top traditional Chinese festivals, along with the Spring Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
Names of Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival has more than twenty names and each has its own meaning and origins. It is called Duanwu Jie in Mandarin and Tuen Ng in Cantonese, and is also known as ‘Dumpling Festival’ and ‘Double Fifth Festival.’