BRICS adopts joint declaration, urges Mideast 'restraint'

BEIJING, September 12 — In a call for unity among BRICS nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the group to reject any violations of sovereignty and engage in constructive dialogue to address pressing global issues, according to a report by Beijing's state media. Speaking at a summit in India, Xi emphasized that BRICS should "oppose violations of other countries’ sovereignty and interference in their internal affairs, and constructively participate in resolving hotspot issues," as reported by Xinhua.

Among those present at the summit in New Delhi were Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation has been embroiled in conflict since US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Xi highlighted the escalating tensions in the Middle East and Gulf region, noting that the ongoing war has inflicted significant harm on the region's population.

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of upholding the authority of the United Nations, as reported by Xinhua. On the topic of international trade, Xi urged BRICS members to reject all forms of protectionism and promote the multilateral trading system, anchored by the World Trade Organization, he said. These remarks come less than two weeks before Xi is scheduled to visit Washington, a significant trade rival for China.