Beijing, May 20th—Under the guidance of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, China NGO Network for International Exchanges held here today the BRICS Civil Society Organizations Forum 2022 with the theme of "bringing into play the role of BRICS civil society in building development partnerships". Chen Zhou, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Li Jun, Vice President of China NGO Network for International Exchanges and former Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the closing ceremony and delivered a concluding speech.

Chen pointed out in his speech that the CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to and actively support exchanges and cooperation among BRICS civil society, and General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that BRICS countries should be committed to promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges among BRICS civil society. Chen said that exchanges and cooperation among BRICS civil society are of great significance in promoting the building of a high-quality BRICS partnership. Chen said that BRICS civil society organizations should adhere to a people-centered philosophy and jointly safeguard the well-being of the people of the five countries, adhere to true multilateralism, jointly tackle global governance challenges, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, jointly promote people-to-people bond, and strengthen solidarity and cooperation to jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Fifteen representatives from BRICS civil society organizations delivered speeches on three topics: "strengthening civil society cooperation and enhancing people's livelihood", "practicing multilateralism and engaging in global governance", and "promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges and enhancing people-to-people bond". The Economic Justice Network (EJN) of South Africa, as the organizer of the next BRICS Civil Society Organizations Forum, made a special speech.

The representatives of BRICS civil society organizations at the forum spoke highly of the important role played by China in the BRICS cooperation and highly praised the Global Development Initiative put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping. They believed that the forum has further pooled the consensus of BRICS civil society and strongly promoted the institutionalization of the BRICS Civil Society Organizations Forum. They called on the civil society organizations to work together to contribute more wisdom and strength to deepening BRICS cooperation, promoting the reform and improvement of the global governance system, and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations.

This forum is part of this year’s BRICS Political Parties, Think Tanks and Civil Society Organizations Forum, and has received wide attention from all sectors of BRICS civil society. More than 300 representatives of civil society organizations from China, Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa attended the forum via video link.

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