Experts and officials from various countries are looking forward to the upcoming 16th BRICS Summit, which will not only facilitate the development of BRICS cooperation, but will also provide new impetus for solidarity and cooperation among countries in the Global South.
As Chinese President Xi Jinping and a host of other leaders gather in Kazan, Russia, for the 16th BRICS summit, the world is once again turning its limelight on the burgeoning international mechanism for how it will push forward self-development and respond to global woes.
The upcoming summit will be the first-ever summit of an expanded BRICS, the leading echelon of the Global South.
At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Xi will attend the summit in Kazan, the capital city of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, from Tuesday to Thursday.
"If there is a positive message from the leader of China towards Tatarstan, it is again our competitive opportunity to continue working for the benefit of Russia-China relations," said Rustam Minnikhanov, head of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.
"Top leaders of many countries will attend the 16th BRICS Summit, including China and Russia, which is very important. It proves that relevant countries are optimistic about the future of the BRICS mechanism. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative brings many countries together to create a large number of new economic projects in areas such as logistics, trade and investment," said Boris Titov, special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for relations with international organizations.
Officials and scholars said that BRICS, a positive and stable force for good in international affairs, will see robust growth, and inject more positive energy into world peace and development. And they are very looking forward to what President Xi will say during the summit.
"The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi has not only promoted China's development, but also made great contributions to the development of the world," said Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga.
"I am very much looking forward to the speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping. I think that his speech will be very inspiring and will employ some of the Chinese wisdom," said Stephan Ossenkopp, senior researcher with the German think tank Schiller Institute.
World Bank data show that the share of BRICS in global GDP grew from 18 percent in 2010 to about 26 percent in 2021, with increases in all years during the period. Following the expansion, the combined GDP of BRICS countries now accounts for about 30 percent of the global total, with their population representing nearly half of the world's total, and their trade making up one-fifth of global trade, according to media report.
Upcoming summit to promote development of BRICS cooperation: officials, experts
A once-thriving mine in east China's Jiangsu Province has been transformed into a deep and blue diving spot, standing as a testament to the country's environmental rehabilitation efforts.
At the Xiangshan National Mine Park in Jiangsu's Xuyi County, the high and low peaks of mountains, platforms and steep shale cliffs, together with the naturally pooled sapphire-blue lake, create a unique and pleasant landscape.
With water depths of over 50 meters and a visibility of up to 20 meters, the park, on the bank of the Huaihe River, has become an unexpected diving paradise. But this striking transformation did not happen overnight.
"Xuyi County has a long history of mining. Mining activities at this pit date back hundreds of years. They have resulted in different degrees of damage to the ecological environment. In 2001, the county took ecological restoration as a development strategy and began mine treatment. Later, we applied for the designation of 'national mining park' and have kept investing in it. The government and local enterprises have invested more than 60 million yuan (about 8.44 million U.S. dollars) in the comprehensive management of the mine," said Du Kui, deputy director of Xuyi County Natural Resources and Planning Bureau.
The official said that the steep and nearly vertical slopes there made the construction challenging, and they had to overcome difficulties to get the job done.
"The main restoration method involved cutting into the rock and planting drought and cold-tolerant trees on the slopes. In the early days, most of the digging and planting was done by hand, bit by bit. That's why it's a miracle that pine trees are now growing on these hillsides,”said Du.
A national freediving depth tournament was held at the park in August 2024. The Aquatic Sports Management Center of the national sports administration expressed hope of making Xuyi a training and competition base for freediving sports in China.
High water quality and convenient supporting facilities has made the park one of the top destinations for Chinese diving enthusiasts.
"From my personal experience, this is the best dive site in inland areas of China. There are no complexities like reefs or water plants at the bottom of the lake, and the water is smooth and free of complex weather, making it a very safe area for divers,”said Yao Pengfei, a diver.
"The water quality here is very good, because it is in a park, unlike some outdoor areas where there is a lack of management and then the environment is less suitable. Here, the water quality is excellent and the surrounding facilities also make it easy for us to dive," said Han Le, another diver.
Local residents said they are also reaping the benefits of the transformation.
"In the past, the roads here were all stony, exposed soil could be seen everywhere, and dust would fly whenever the wind blew. The government has made efforts in the past few years to transform it into a park. Now, the mountains have turned green, and the roads have been laid with asphalt concrete. As nearby residents, we can bring our children here to enjoy the weekends. The environment has improved a lot," said Wang Huajun who lives on Xucheng Street.
Chinese county turns mining legacy into freediving paradise
