Xiamen summit to bring BRICS members closer

QUANZHOU, Fujian, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Indian representatives attending a seminar in southeast China said they expect the upcoming BRICS summit will bring its members closer.

The Seminar on Governance was held from Aug. 17-18 in the city of Quanzhou, Fujian Province, to share experience on domestic and global governance among emerging economies.

The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will descend on the nearby city of Xiamen in early September for the 9th BRICS Summit.

Swaran Singh, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said over the last 30 years, increased engagement between China and India in multilateral meetings has had a positive influence on bilateral relations.

He said on multilateral occasions like BRICS summits that China and India often find their concerns and development strategies similar.

Meeting in multilateral forums creates friendship as the officials feel closer, Singh said.

China and India, along with other three nations, are grouped into BRICS based on their similar development stages and common aspirations. All five hope to maintain steady growth, reduce poverty, and play bigger roles in global governance.

Since 2009, BRICS summits have been held annually. The nations' foreign, finance and security ministers also meet regularly under the BRICS framework.

Tarun Vijay, president of India-China Parliamentary Group of the Confederation of Indian Industries, said India and China have been working closely together within BRICS as it is important for the world's two largest developing countries to speak common voices in the multilateral arena.

He said differences, if handled well, can be opportunities.

"When brothers are united, their sharpness can break metal," Vijay said, citing a Chinese proverb.