The BRICS High-level Forum on Sustainable Development was held “online+offline” in Fuzhou from June 29th to 30th. With the theme of “Shaping the Future of BRICS Value Chain”, the Forum aims at steadily promoting the Global Development Initiative, accelerating the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and jointly building a Global Community of Development.

Zhao Chenxin, Member of the Leading Party Group and Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at the Opening Ceremony, “Development is the key to all problems, and the common task of emerging markets and developing countries. As representatives of emerging markets and developing countries, it is particularly important for BRICS to unite and cooperate for global sustainable development.” Zhao put forward four points: opening up and innovation for joint economic recovery; innovation-driven common development; environmental governance for a Community of Life for Man and Nature; and putting people first to improve livelihood and well-being.

Fujian is an important starting point and the birthplace of the ancient Maritime Silk Road and the core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. At the Opening Ceremony, Zhao Long, Deputy Secretary of Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Governor, said that Fujian is willing to join hands with all to build a clean and beautiful world, give full play to Fujian’s advantage as the first national pilot zone for ecological conservation in China, and promote the all-round green transformation of economic and social development; to bridge the digital divide, harness the advantage as the host of Digital China Summit and accelerate the construction of information infrastructure such as dedicated connectivity channels; to maintain the security and stability of the industrial chain and supply chain, harness role as the base for BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution, and deeply integrate into the Belt and Road; and to meet global challenges with the “BRICS+” cooperation model, actively deal with natural disasters, climate change, food and energy security, pandemic prevention and control, and make new contributions to the Community of Shared Future for Mankind.

“We are very much looking forward to the outcomes of this forum and the construction of Fuzhou into a modern international city while exploring sustainable economic, social and environmental development. We sincerely hope to establish friendly and cooperative relations with more cities in BRICS countries and emerging markets, to make more friends and contribute Fuzhou’s strength to global sustainable development,” said Lin Baojin, Member of the Standing Committee of Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of Fuzhou Municipal Party Committee.

Focusing on how to realize the sustainable development of BRICS countries, the Forum comprises one main forum, four parallel sub-forums and an industrial matchmaking meeting. The themes of the four sub-forums are: Unity Against Pandemic and Health Cooperation, Sharing Opportunities of Digital Economy, Connectivity of Industrial Chain and Supply Chain, and Sustainable Solutions to Green and Low-carbon Development.

Huang Yong, Director of the International Cooperation Center of NDRC, believes that the BRICS countries have large economies, rapid development, wide influence and a unique position in the world, and are becoming an important engine of global growth. Huang Yong proposed that, in order to strengthen the BRICS’ open and new cooperation for post-pandemic recovery, it is necessary to enhance industrial cooperation and development resilience, seize the opportunity of the times, activate the development impetus, and promote diversified cooperation to generate synergies.

In recent years, BRICS countries have identified the efficient application of ICT and data as the priority, and formulated unique strategies for digital economy. Digital economy was a hot topic at the Forum.

Bai Jingyu, Director of the Innovation-Driven Development Center (Digital Economy Research and Development Center) of the NDRC, suggested that BRICS countries focus on technical exchanges and cooperation to jointly unleash the potential of digital economy; digital transformation cooperation to jointly stimulate the digital economy; and cooperation in governance rules to improve the development environment for digital economy.

At the Forum, heads of relevant departments of Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, international organizations such as the UNDP, UNEP and UNIDO ITPO, multilateral financial institutions such as the AIIB and the New Development Bank, and enterprise representatives of Sinopec, COFCO and China Minmetals attended the forum and delivered speeches.

This Forum was co-hosted by the International Cooperation Department of the NDRC, Fuzhou Municipal Government, the International Cooperation Center of the NDRC and Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission; supported by New Development Bank, Fuzhou New Area Management Committee and Zhejiang University; and participated by nearly 400 representatives from government departments, financial institutions, scientific research institutions, trade associations, industrial parks, well-known enterprises and international and regional organizations from BRICS countries.