Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in Brasilia for BRIC summit

BRASILIA - Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Brazil capital Brasilia on Wednesday for a summit of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) slated for Thursday and Friday.

According to The China Daily, the BRIC leaders will discuss the global economy and financial situation, reform of the international financial system, climate change and cooperation among the four countries.

It quoted Chinese diplomats, as saying that the four countries will hold a number of supporting activities, including an entrepreneur forum, a meeting of development banks, a meeting of cooperatives and a seminar of think tanks.

China is hoping for a discussion on all global issues in the spirit of mutual benefit, so as to facilitate the recovery of the world economy, safeguard the four nations’ common interests and advance their cooperation, said Qin Gang, the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

China has always adopted a “positive, pragmatic, open and transparent” attitude toward cooperation with other BRIC nations, he added.

As major emerging markets, BRIC countries account for 42 percent of the world’s population, 14.6 percent of the world’s GDP and 12.8 percent of global trade.

The BRIC countries have become an important force in the international community, receiving worldwide attention.

“In the face of increasing global challenges, the BRIC countries have enhanced cooperation among themselves and with other countries in the world in an active, pragmatic, open and transparent manner. I believe that is in the interests of the whole world,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi last month.

After the BRIC summit, President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Brazil, a country he last visited in 2004.

Hu and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will exchange views on bilateral ties as well as other issues of common concern.

During the visit, China and Brazil will sign a 2010-2014 joint action plan and a number of cooperation documents on culture, science and technology, quality control, energy and finance.

Lula paid a state visit to China last year, during which leaders of the two countries reached consensus over a broad range of major issues.

The Chinese president flew into Brasilia from Washington after attending a nuclear security summit. He will also pay a state visit to Venezuela and a working visit to Chile.

Chinese analysts say BRIC should not be a mere “economic symbol”, but should have more meaningful cooperation in other areas such as infrastructure and energy.

Zhou Zhiwei, secretary-general of the center for Brazilian studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the BRIC nations are actually exploring the possibility of pragmatic cooperation, but said there’s “a long way to go”.

“These countries should identify their strengths and concentrate on areas in which they are complimentary,” he said.

Jiang Yi, a Russian studies expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said cooperation among the BRIC nations is still at the “beginning stage”. (ANI)