NANJING — China put forward four objectives that it believes can be achieved at the ninth BRICS leaders’ summit, said State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Feb 23.

Yang made the remarks at the First Sherpa Meeting of the summit that opened on the same day in Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu province.

BRICS groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The BRIC cooperative mechanism was established in 2006.

According to Yang, the 2017 BRICS Summit will be held on Sept 3-5 in Xiamen in east China’s Fujian province. The theme of this year’s event is “BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future.”

President Xi Jinping hopes to work with other BRICS leaders to ensure the meeting is a success, said Yang.

Yang said China expects the Xiamen BRICS summit will promote members strengthening solidarity and collaboration, and improving global governance; deepening pragmatic cooperation to achieve mutual benefit; increasing people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing public support; and strengthening institutional mechanism and improving cooperation platform, which are the four objectives.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi (8th L) poses for a group photo at the First Sherpa Meeting of the 9th BRICS Summit in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu province, Feb 23, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

China is confident that the BRICS cooperation will progress to a new level and become a globally influential platform for South-South cooperation, said Yang.

Cooperation among the emerging-market bloc will push forward the establishment of a more fair and rational international order, he added.

Yang said BRICS has become a driving force, promoting global economic growth, improving global governance, and pushing forward democracy in international relations, he noted.

Facing a complicated and volatile international situation, BRICS nations should remain confidant and work together to cope with challenges and seize the opportunities for common development, said Yang.

He voiced confidence that the Xiamen BRICS summit would result in positive outcomes and create a brighter future for BRICS nations.

The First BRICS Sherpa Meeting runs from Feb 23 to 24 to prepare for the BRICS leaders’ summit in September.

The meeting attracted more than 100 participants, including coordinators from all sides, foreign diplomats, and representatives from the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB).