
From February 23 to 24, 2017, the first BRICS Sherpa meeting was held in Nanjing of Jiangsu province. State Councilor Yang Jiechi attended and addressed the opening ceremony. China's Sherpa for BRICS Affairs and Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong presided over the meeting. Nearly 100 people including Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas of BRICS countries, foreign diplomatic envoys in China as well as representatives from the New Development Bank were present.
Centering on the theme of Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future, the meeting conducted in-depth discussions on world political and economic situation, 4 major topics including the key points of 2017 BRICS cooperation, cooperation in political security, economic cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation as well as the work plan in 2017, reaching extensive consensus. Representatives of all countries appreciated China's leading role as the presidency, and expressed their unanimous approval on the theme and topics of the Xiamen Summit and the annual work plan. All parties agreed that the current international political and economic situation is undergoing complicated and profound changes. As the BRICS cooperation enters into a new decade, it faces new opportunities and challenges. BRICS countries should fully make use of the high representative meeting for security affairs, Foreign Ministers’ meeting and other mechanisms to enhance communication and coordination in international and regional issues and play a constructive role in safeguarding global peace and security. BRICS countries should deeply implement the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy, strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policies under the G20 framework, build an open world economy, improve global economic governance, deepen practical cooperation in trade, investment, finance and other fields among BRICS countries, reinforce people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and hold cultural festivals, film festivals, sports games, high-level meeting on traditional medicine and other activities to consolidate the public opinion foundation of cooperation. We should advance the construction of cooperation mechanisms and beef up the synchronization of practical cooperation in all fields to form effective synergy.
All parties unanimously agreed to support China to well host the Xiamen Summit. It is believed that under joint efforts of China and all parties, the BRICS cooperation in 2017 will achieve fruitful outcomes, which will open up a brighter future for the common development of BRICS countries, the economic and social development of emerging markets and developing countries as well as the cause of global peace and development.
On January 1, 2017, China officially assumed the BRICS presidency, and will hold the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen of Fujian province from September 3 to 5. The Sherpa meeting this time is the first official event held by China as the BRICS presidency in 2017, and it aims to make political preparations for the convening of the Xiamen Summit. The Sherpa meeting charted the course and key points for the BRICS cooperation in 2017, clarified the “roadmap” for the advancement and laid a foundation for earnestly advancing the preparation for the Xiamen Summit.