On October 16, 2016 local time, the outreach summit between leaders of BRICS countries and member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was held in Goa, India. President Xi Jinping attended the summit together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Michel Temer of Brazil, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Tsheing Tobgay of Bhutan, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal of Nepal, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, representative of the Thai government and others.
Focusing on the theme of "BRICS-BIMSTEC: A Partnership in Opportunities", attending leaders conducted discussion on developing cooperation between emerging market economies and developing countries.
Xi Jinping stressed in the speech that both groups belong to the big family of developing countries and share common desires in safeguarding world peace and regional security, as well as common needs for domestic economic development and improving people's livelihood and benefits. BIMSTEC countries are China's good friends, good neighbors and good partners, and have maintained long-lasting friendly relations and close cooperation with China. The friendship between the Chinese people and people of all countries along the Bay of Bengal remains unshakable and becomes even firmer as time goes by.
Xi Jinping pointed out that facing both unprecedented opportunities and challenges at present, emerging market economies and developing countries should join hands and make concerted efforts to enhance policy communication and coordination, complement each other's advantages and promote regional economic integration. Both sides should boost the organic docking between the "Belt and Road" construction and relevant BIMSTEC plans, facilitate infrastructure construction and connectivity and strive for common development. BRICS and BIMSTEC countries should also advance non-governmental friendly exchanges and enhance exchanges at all levels in such fields as local affairs, media, think tank and youth, in order to deeply nurture the foundation of partnerships.
Xi Jinping stressed that the G20 Hangzhou Summit held last month has scored a series of important results, which is believed to play a positive role in promoting international development and cooperation, and help propel the development of BIMSTEC countries. China will always prioritize cooperation with developing countries, continuously inject fresh impetus into South-South cooperation, and constantly open up new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation within Asia by upholding its neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. China stands ready to make joint efforts with all parties to strive to lift dialogues and cooperation between BRICS countries and other sides to new heights through the platform of the BRICS mechanism and guided by the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation.
Other present leaders expressed that BRICS and BIMSTEC countries enjoy high economic complementarity as well as vast cooperation potential. BRICS countries have achieved important progress in such fields as pursuing innovative development and eliminating poverty. Both sides should strengthen cooperation in areas including connectivity, trade and investment, maritime economy and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to join forces for development. The two sides also need to enhance communication, learn from beneficial experiences, carry out closer cooperation in international affairs, improve global economic governance system and work together to address challenges, so as to achieve common development.
Yang Jiechi and others attended the summit.