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Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks, as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa listens, at Union Buildings ahead of the opening speech at the BRICS summit, in Pretoria, South Africa, August 22, 2023. Photo/REUTERS/Alet Pretorius
JOHANNESBURG – President Xi Jinping stressed that China will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy while building a common future for mankind.
He insisted Beijing was standing “on the right side of history.” In a prepared speech for the BRICS Business Forum in South Africa, Xi stated, “Hegemonism is not in China’s DNA; China also has no motivation to get involved in the rivalry of the big powers.”
Xi was one of the leaders in Johannesburg who attended the 15th BRICS Summit. He held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday (22/8/2023).
However, the Chinese president did not personally attend the BRICS Business Forum held on the same day, and his speech was read by Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
Xi said China would remain committed to a peaceful and independent foreign policy, with the aim of “building a community with a shared future for mankind.”
He added, “Our doors are wide open for anyone who wants to be involved in a partnership with us.”
“China stands firmly on the right side of history, and believes that just ends must be pursued for the common good,” said the Chinese leader.
“Welfare and development should be promoted for all members of the international community, but some countries, obsessed with maintaining their hegemony, have made great efforts to paralyze EMDC (developing markets and developing countries),” Xi claimed, in an apparent reference to the United States (US). .
He argued, “Any attempt to contain developing countries will be futile, and the collective rise of the EMDC represented by the BRICS is fundamentally changing the global landscape.”
