STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP & GUARD MULTILATERALISM 

Addressing the session, Ramaphosa highlighted the rising unilateralism and protectionism in the world, and their negative impact on emerging market economies and developing countries.

South Africa supports the BRICS countries in building the PartNIR, and takes the opportunity of the fourth industrial revolution to achieve greater development in the second "Golden Decade" of the BRICS cooperation, Ramaphosa said.

Facing similar development tasks, Temer said the BRICS countries should strengthen solidarity, jointly address the current risks and challenges, align their development strategies, expand cooperation fields and enhance science and technology competitiveness.

Putin said the BRICS countries are faced with a complicated and ever-changing international situation, urging them to unite and coordinate with each other, stick to multilateralism and international norms, and jointly dedicate themselves to protecting the economic order, promoting high-quality and equal development, and properly resolving regional hotspot issues through political means.

The BRICS countries should carry out closer cooperation under multilateral frameworks and boost their influence in international affairs, he said.

Calling the BRICS countries an important engine of global growth, Modi said they should actively help improve global governance, carry forward multilateralism, facilitate free trade and make globalization beneficial to all, so as to better protect the interests of developing countries.

The summit issued the Johannesburg Declaration, in which the BRICS countries sent a clear signal to preserve multilateralism and reject protectionism.

The BRICS countries decided to initiate the PartNIR and deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, finance, political security and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, according to the declaration.