On April 18th, Ma Zhaoxu, the coordinator of BRICS affairs and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, collectively met with the ambassadors of BRICS member countries and partner countries in China in Beijing. Ma Zhaoxu elaborated on China’s policy stance on the United States’ excessive imposition of tariffs, stating that the United States’ indiscriminate imposition of tariffs and initiation of tariff wars and trade wars around the world are typical unilateralism, protectionism, and economic bullying, seriously infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, seriously violating the rules of the World Trade Organization, and seriously impacting the global economic order. As the most important platform for solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries, BRICS countries should strengthen unity, work together to respond, resist unilateral bullying, uphold the multilateral trading system, and defend international fairness and justice. Ma Zhaoxu emphasized that there are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars. China has taken resolute countermeasures not only to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, but also to maintain international rules and order, safeguard the common interests of the international community, especially the development rights of countries in the global South. Ma Zhaoxu stated that economic bullying has no way out, and mutually beneficial cooperation is the right path. The United States’ retrogressive actions cannot stop the historical trend of open cooperation. Over the years, China has actively expanded its economic and trade relations with countries around the world, and is a major trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions. No matter how the international situation changes, China will actively promote high-level opening up to the outside world, continue to strengthen cooperation with all parties including BRICS member countries and partner countries, and open up broader markets and development space. The attending envoys stated that the United States has provoked a tariff war, which damages free trade and the global economy. The BRICS countries should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, defend multilateralism, uphold the rules based and WTO centered multilateral trading system, oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and economic bullying, and strive for the rightful development rights of the global South. BRICS countries should work together to enhance their ability to resist external risks, deepen practical cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade, and investment, maintain stable and smooth global industrial and supply chains, and inject confidence and momentum into the world economy.
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