BEIJING – China has called on the BRICS bloc of nations to assume greater responsibilities and position itself as an inclusive global force, Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on June 11. This comes in response to mounting Western sanctions and trade restrictions targeting China.
Chinese companies have been subjected to Western sanctions due to their support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Additionally, the European Commission is poised to announce tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to protect European carmakers.
This week, the Group of Seven (G-7) wealthy democracies is expected to issue a stern warning to smaller Chinese banks, urging them to stop assisting Russia in evading Western sanctions, according to sources cited by Reuters.
At a BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod, Mr. Wang highlighted the increasing politicization of economic issues, including unilateral sanctions and technological barriers, though he did not name specific countries. His remarks were published by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, aims to challenge Western dominance in global affairs. The bloc has recently expanded to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia.
Mr. Wang emphasized that the enlarged BRICS should transform into “a new multilateral cooperation mechanism” spearheaded by emerging markets and developing nations.
In a meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting, Mr. Wang expressed China’s willingness to collaborate with Brazil to enhance BRICS’ role in global governance and protect the interests of developing countries.
As geopolitical tensions and economic sanctions continue to shape international relations, China’s call for a stronger and more inclusive BRICS highlights the bloc’s potential to influence global governance and support emerging markets.