China's vision, action promote BRICS cooperation

BRICS is returning to China once again. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Saturday at the ongoing BRICS summit in New Delhi that China will host the gathering next year.

The BRICS grouping originated from an idea in 2001, when former Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill coined the term "BRIC" to describe Brazil, Russia, India and China as emerging economies with significant growth potential.

Over the past two decades, China has hosted three BRICS summits, each marking a new milestone in the group's evolution, which expanded the scope of cooperation and strengthened the representation of the Global South.

In 2011, at the Sanya Summit in south China, South Africa attended for the first time as a full member, officially expanding BRICS to five members.

In 2017, the Xiamen Summit in east China opened the group's second "Golden Decade," advancing cooperation in trade and finance, political security, and people-to-people exchanges. It also launched "BRICS plus" and a dialogue with emerging markets and developing countries, building broader partnerships.

In 2022, Beijing hosted the 14th Summit by video, holding the first High-level Dialogue on Global Development to advance the Global Development Initiative. Participants at the summit reached consensus to expand BRICS and agreed to clarify guiding principles, standards and procedures. The meeting also adopted the Beijing Declaration, endorsing cooperation on digital economy, supply chains, customs and anti-corruption.

The 24th Chinese Peacekeeping Contingent to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) donated 40 solar streetlights to two Lebanese villages on Friday.

Before delivering the lights, Chinese peacekeepers visited and coordinated with Lebanon's civil affairs department to learn about the villages' lighting shortages, then took targeted actions.

Since they arrived at the mission area, the contingent has cleared mines, built infrastructures, provided medical aid to locals and performed other operations. The Chinese peacekeepers have made concrete contributions to safeguarding local peace and security, and won acclaims from the UN and local residents.