China welcomes Vietnam's inclusion as BRICS partner country: spokesman

China welcomes Vietnam's joining BRICS as a partner country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

Guo made the remarks in response to a media query about a press release by the BRICS Chair Brazil announcing Vietnam's inclusion as a BRICS partner country.

"China welcomes Viet Nam to become a BRICS partner country. Joining BRICS cooperation is good for Viet Nam’s own development and the common interest of BRICS countries and the Global South. We believe Viet Nam will contribute positively to the BRICS mechanism," Guo said.

"Having a new partner country in the BRICS family symbolizes the BRICS’ growing representativeness, appeal and impact. China stands ready to work with other BRICS members and partner countries for a closer and more all-round, result-oriented and inclusive partnership, advance high-quality greater BRICS cooperation, and contribute more to defending multilateralism and global fairness and justice and advocating common development," he said.

The death toll in the war-torn Gaza Strip has risen to 71,412 since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on Oct 7, 2023, with the number of injuries reaching 171,314, Gaza's health authorities said on Sunday.

In the last 48 hours, hospitals in Gaza received three bodies along with nine new injuries, according to health authorities.

Since the ceasefire agreement took effect on Oct 11, 2025, Israeli attacks have killed 442 people and wounded 1,236 others, said the authorities.