CGTN: The August Summit is being touted as one of the most important ones. Could we ask you to comment if the BRICS will be expanding to other countries? And who will likely to be included and what is the criteria?  

Ma Zhaoxu: Thank you very much for your question. We all remember that it was the BRICS Xiamen Summit in 2017 that started the “BRICS Plus” model. We can also recall in 2022 when China chaired the BRICS, the “BRICS Plus” meetings were held in many areas. For the past few years, the “BRICS Plus” model has been developing very fast. And that was very well recognized by the BRICS countries as well as the international community. It has actually provided one platform for the solidarity and cooperation between the developing countries and emerging market economies. So we're very happy to see this kind of model has been developing in the right way. And last year, during the Beijing summit, the leaders of the BRICS reached consensus on the steps for the furthering of the expansion of the BRICS. And we are happy to see that more and more countries have expressed their willingness to join us in the BRICS family.

For China, we welcome the intention of those countries to join the BRICS. And we expect more countries to join our big family. The BRICS is inclusive and pursues the road of opening up and win-win cooperation. This is in sharp contrast to some countries’ small circle. I believe the enlargement of the BRICS will be beneficial to the BRICS countries and developing countries and help increase the representation and influence of this mechanism, and gather the power of the BRICS to serve the interests of developing countries and emerging market economies as well as the international development course. Thank you very much.

Phoenix TV: Some Western countries are trying hard to impose their point of view on the emerging markets and developing countries. They appear to do this using various means which comes at a risk of the development of those countries. My question is, in your view, how should the emerging markets and the developing countries deal with this?

Ma Zhaoxu: The BRICS foreign ministers meeting today and the friends of BRICS foreign ministers meeting tomorrow are both the gatherings of the representatives of emerging markets and developing countries, and both are themed on solidarity, progress, and win-win cooperation.

But at the same time, we see that some certain countries in the world trying to contain other countries, seek decoupling and sever supply chains by building exclusive circles and trying to suppress and contain the development of China and other developing countries. Essentially, they do not wish to allow the developing countries to achieve development or economic prosperity. This is in sharp contrast with what BRICS is doing.

But history has already told us that the development and strengthening of developing countries is a trend of history that will not be stopped. And in the face of such suppression and containment, we must do the following four things.

First, be confident. The emerging markets and developing countries including the BRICS countries, all enjoy profound history and traditions and splendid cultures and civilizations. This is the source of our confidence and of our wisdom and strength.

Second, be independent. The emerging markets and developing countries should manage their own affairs and these affairs are up to ourselves, no one else has the right to lecture us, take away our right to follow a path that suits our own national conditions.  

Third, be self-reliant. Developing countries and emerging markets are equal members of the international community. We do not depend on or please anybody. And still less will we threaten anyone. All the efforts we make are aimed to deliver a better life for our own peoples.  

And the last point is to be self-strengthening. The emerging markets and developing countries should have a greater representation and voice in world affairs. We have the willingness and the ability to make our due contribution to world peace and development

And I look forward to tomorrow’s meeting, where we will have further exchanges with other emerging markets and developing countries to build more consensus for cooperation and make a greater contribution to world peace and development.