On the sidelines of President Xi Jinping’s attendance at the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg and his state visit to South Africa, the Press Center of the Chinese Delegation invited Chen Siqing, Chairman of BRICS Business Council (BBC) -- China Chapter and Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, to brief the media on the BRICS Business Council Annual Meeting 2023.

Chen noted that on August 21 local time, 2023, the BRICS Business Council Annual Meeting 2023 was successfully convened in Johannesburg, South Africa. This year marks the “Year of South Africa” of BRICS and the 10th anniversary of the founding of the BBC. With unremitting decade-long efforts, the BRICS industrial and commercial cooperation has become more diversified, and economic and trade ties have become closer. We deserve the achievements because the hard work paid off, and going forward, the future is even brighter. Standing at a key crossroads with the past and future in mind, the five chapters should join hands to promote the BRICS industrial and business cooperation and create a better future with more effective and solid measures, sailing again the giant ship of cooperation from Johannesburg. On behalf of the China Chapter, Chen put forward a 4-point proposal for strengthening the communication and cooperation between BRICS business communities. First, we should stay committed to openness and inclusiveness and build more extensive partnerships. Second, we should uphold mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and accelerate economic recovery. Third, we should embrace innovation and foster new drivers of growth. Fourth, we should uphold solidarity and cooperation and work together to address risks and challenges.

Chen said during the meeting, the 5 Chapters approved the Annual Report 2023, which sums up the work achievements and highlights of the Business Council in the year with a focus on trade and investment, agricultural development and market connectivity and offers more than 30 proposals from experts to the governments of BRICS countries. Moreover, a joint statement on trade and investment was issued, which advocates boosting common prosperity of BRICS countries and Africa. The China Chapter also had an exchange of views with representatives of other BRICS countries on deepening cooperation in key areas and promoting global economic recovery and reached common understandings, which will make new and greater contributions to promoting mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between the five countries. 

The BRICS Business Council was founded during the 5th BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa in March 2013. Each BRICS country nominates 5 council members representing different sectors and industries. The China Chapter was established in Beijing in May 2013. The Council is an important mechanism for exchanges and cooperation between the business circles of the BRICS countries, which aims to strengthen and promote economic, trade, business and investment ties between the five BRICS countries, ensure regular dialogue between the business communities and the governments and offer solutions to problems.