BRICS foreign ministers fail to agree on joint declaration
發佈日期: 2025-04-30 19:33
TVB News
Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed out at U.S. tariff policy at the latest gathering of top diplomats from BRICS members. He called for a joint effort to oppose all forms of protectionism and firmly uphold multilateral trade rules.
Danni Zhou has the story.
The second and final day of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. In an expanded format, the event was attended by 11 member states and representatives of BRICS partner countries.
In a news conference held after the meeting, Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira affirmed the need to strengthen multilateralism and Global South cooperation "as tools to address contemporary challenges," stating it is not in the interest of BRICS members to live in a fractured world.
A key topic of the meeting was how to respond to what the Trump administration call "reciprocal tariffs."
In his push for joint opposition against hegemonism, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the "greater BRICS" should continue to safeguard the multilateral trading system and build a more just and equitable global governance system.
Wang has warned nations not to succumb to Washington's tariff threats. He stated "people have seen the law of the jungle of the survival of the fittest has appeared, coercion and bullying no longer need to be disguised, and the foundation for the development of international relations
is under continuous threat."
He emphasised China's response to the trade war is firm and clear, saying "if you insist on fighting, we will fight till the end; and any talks must be based on equality and respect."
The two-day BRICS meeting unexpectedly concluded without a joint declaration.
Sources say Egypt and Ethiopia, two newer additions to the bloc, opposed parts of a plan to put forward South Africa as a preferred BRICS candidate for a reformed United Nations Security Council.
Host nation Brazil issued a chair statement to leave path open for talks for a statement ahead.
In the document, foreign ministers condemned attempts to unilaterally undermine the multilateral trading system, and raised concerns about the indiscriminate imposition of reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff measures, without mentioning the U.S. by name.
They also forged agreement on enhancing use of local currencies in trade and financial settlements between BRICS countries and their trade partners.
