Xi Jinping tells BRICS leaders ‘we’re all in the same boat’ as he takes veiled swipe at US

Chinese president calls on emerging economies to uphold multilateralism and ‘oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction’

He also says the five nations should work together to fight the pandemic and to implement the Paris climate agreement

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President Xi Jinping addresses the annual summit of BRICS leaders via video link from Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:30pm, 18 Nov 2020Updated: 11:02pm, 18 Nov 2020

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on key emerging economies to uphold multilateralism and “oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction” at a time of unprecedented crisis, taking a veiled swipe at Washington.

Addressing the annual summit of BRICS leaders – a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – Xi said the world was caught between a pandemic and “momentous changes” not seen in 100 years, and that the five nations were “all in the same boat”.

“When the wind is strong and the tides are high, we must be even more focused on our direction,” he said on Tuesday via video link.

Xi said despite the economic and social disruption brought by the coronavirus pandemic, they should be “convinced that the theme of our times – peace and development – has not changed, and the trend towards multipolarity and economic globalisation cannot be turned around”.

This year’s virtual BRICS meeting was hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Xinhua

“We should resolve differences through consultation and negotiation, oppose interference in internal affairs, oppose unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, and jointly create a peaceful and stable development environment,” the Chinese leader said.