Johannesburg, Aug. 22 (China News) (Reporter: Guo Jinchao) -- On the afternoon of Aug. 22 local time, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech titled Deepening Solidarity and Cooperation, Addressing Risks and Challenges, and Building a Better World to the closing ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in Johannesburg.

Xi pointed out that at present, the changes in the world, the times and history are developing in an unprecedented way, and human society has come to a critical juncture. Shall we insist on cooperation and integration, or move towards division and confrontation? Shall we join hands to maintain peace and stability, or slide into the abyss of a “new cold war”? Shall we prosper in openness and inclusiveness, or sink into depression in the midst of hegemony and bullying? Shall we enhance mutual trust through exchanges and mutual learning, or allow arrogance and prejudice to cloud our conscience? Where the pendulum of history swings depends on our choices.

Xi emphasized that today’s world is a community of destiny that thrives on prosperity and suffers losses. What human beings are looking forward to is not a “new cold war” or a “small circle”, but a world of lasting peace and universal security, a world of common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and a clean and beautiful world. This is the logic of history and the trend of the times. All countries should uphold a correct view of the world, history and the overall situation, and translate the concept of building a community of human destiny into action and vision into reality.

We must promote common development and prosperity. Emerging market countries and developing countries have gone through great hardships to gain national independence, and all they have done is to enable their people have a happy life. Every country has the right to development, and all peoples have the freedom to pursue a happy life. China is ready to work with all countries to accelerate cooperation on global development initiatives, to address common challenges and to enhance the well-being of all peoples.

We must strive to realize universal security. Only by adhering to a new security concept that is common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable can we walk the path of universal security. China is willing to work with all parties to promote global security initiatives, adhere to dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win rather than zero-sum, and join hands to build a security community.

We should insist on exchanges and mutual understanding among civilizations. Colorfulness is the essence of human civilization. Deliberately advocating the so-called dichotomies of “democracy and authoritarianism” and “freedom and autocracy” can only lead to the fragmentation of the world and the clash of civilizations. China welcomes the active participation of all countries in the Global Civilization Initiative, which seeks to promote the common values of all humankind, facilitate the common development and exchanges of different civilizations and continue the flame of human civilization.

Xi emphasized that the group rise of emerging market countries and developing countries, represented by the BRICS, is fundamentally changing the world map. No matter how much resistance there is, the BRICS, a positive, stable and good-looking force, will flourish. We will continue to deepen the BRICS strategic partnership, expanding the “BRICS+” model, actively pushing forward the enlargement process, deepening solidarity and cooperation with other emerging market countries and developing countries, pushing forward the multi-polarization of the world and the democratization of international relations, and promoting the development of the international order in a more just and rational direction. More than 20 countries are knocking on the gate of BRICS, and China sincerely welcomes all of them to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism!

Xi emphasized that China firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is committed to promoting the building of a community of human destiny. As a developing country and a member of the “Global South”, China has always shared the same fate with other developing countries, firmly safeguarded the common interests of developing countries, and pushed to increase the representation and voice of emerging market countries and developing countries in global affairs. China does not have the gene for hegemony, nor does it have the impulse to play the great powers, but firmly stands on the right side of history and adheres to the principle that “a public spirit will rule all under the sky when the great way prevails”.

Xi pointed out that at present, the Chinese people are advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in a comprehensive manner with Chinese-style modernization under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. China embodies the institutional advantages of a socialist market economy, the demand advantages of a mega-market, the supply advantages of a complete industrial system, and the talent advantages of a large number of high-quality workers and entrepreneurs. China’s economy is resilient, promising and dynamic, and its long-term positive fundamentals will not change. China will always be an important opportunity for the world’s development, and will firmly promote high-level opening up, create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, rule of law-oriented and internationalized, and build a network of high-standard free trade zones facing the world. With more than 1.4 billion people moving into modernization, China will certainly make greater contributions to the world economy and provide more space for the business community of all countries.