BEIJING — BRICS will enhance partnerships and include more friendly nations in BRICS Plus, researchers said at a State Council Information Office briefing on Aug 28.

Zhang Yansheng of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges interpreted BRICS Plus as expanding “the circle of friends” so that more emerging market economies and developing countries could join.

For a “brighter future,” BRICS should contribute more to make the world open wider, safer and full of cooperative spirit, while strengthening partnerships to confront global uncertainties, including de-globalization, protectionism and unilateralism, according to Zhang.

He forecast the upcoming BRICS Summit would focus on deepening cooperation to promote common development, playing bigger role in global governance to deal with world challenges, intensifying people-to-people exchange and renovating the BRICS mechanism.

BRICS leaders will meet in China’s southeastern coastal city of Xiamen in early September for the 9th BRICS Summit.

Since 2009, BRICS summits have been held annually. The nations’ foreign, finance and security ministers also meet regularly.

During the past years, the five BRICS members have doubled their GDP weighting to 23 percent of the world’s total.

Zhang Jianping, a researcher with the commerce ministry, said at the briefing that BRICS Plus was open to all developing nations, including those from G20 members.

Instead of being tarnished, the BRICS cooperative mechanism will shine ever brighter in future as more potential is tapped, according to Zhang.