AP, XIAMEN, ChinaThe BRICS group of five major emerging economies yesterday called for reform of the UN and tougher measures against terrorist groups, while denouncing North Korea’s latest nuclear test at a summit in China that seeks to enlarge the organization’s presence on the world stage. The nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — agreed in a joint declaration to strengthen cooperation against a range of organizations it described as terrorist, including some based in Pakistan, in a diplomatic victory for New Delhi. The five also pledged their opposition to protectionism, a theme increasingly taken up by host Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) as anti-globalization sentiment in the West poses a threat to China’s vast export markets. Preeti Saran, an official with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said each leader had referred to North Korea’s nuclear test when they spoke during their meeting. Xi announced in his opening address yesterday that China would set aside 500 million yuan (US$76.7 million) for economic and technological cooperation and exchanges among BRICS countries, and US$4 million to support the BRICS’ New Development Bank.

Source: Taipei Times September 04, 2017 15:56 UTC