CHINA MFA: BRICS Expansion Was Transparent And Diplomatic

Reuters carrying comments from Li Kexin, Director-General of Department of International Economic Affairs at China's Foreign Ministry stating: "China supports all six new joiners, the discussion of BRICS expansion was transparent and diplomatic," adding "New members should be emerging economies, possess regional and strategic global influence."

• Li says the BRICS mechanism is not anti-west: "We do not engage in camp confrontation.”
• Li's comments echo South Africa’s BRICS representative, Anil Sooklal, who stated today: “This is what BRICS is saying, let’s be more inclusive. BRICS is not anti-West.”
• The Washington Post reportsthat, within China, BRICS is increasingly viewed as, "a better platform for large developing countries to speak up," in light of global tensions over the war in Ukraine and a western shift in focus to the G7.
• Andrew Small, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, said that the year has seen, “the most open and explicit push from [Chinese President] Xi Jinping to turn the BRICS into a kind of ‘anti-hegemonic’ vehicle."