In a recent interview with our reporter, Ali Shafik, Vice President of the Egypt-China Friendship Association and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, shared his insights on the growing influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism. He emphasized that BRICS countries have emerged as a significant force on the international stage, playing a crucial role in promoting South-South cooperation and fostering shared development.
Shafik pointed out that global development is currently facing serious challenges, with some nations resorting to unilateral sanctions and other hegemonic actions to maintain their dominance. These actions have exacerbated the North-South divide and hindered global economic recovery. As a multilateral cooperation mechanism comprising emerging market and developing countries, BRICS has become a constructive force for promoting economic growth, enhancing global governance, and advancing the democratization of international relations. “BRICS nations are actively addressing the risks and challenges in the world economy and are working to facilitate trade and investment, which helps stabilize the global financial system and supply chains, providing a boost to economic development worldwide,” he noted.
Shafik also highlighted the rising collective influence of emerging markets and developing countries, represented by BRICS, in shaping the international landscape. “This cooperation enhances the capability of emerging market and developing countries to respond to external risks and offers guarantees for achieving sustainable development and improving living standards across nations. The BRICS cooperation mechanism is a vital component of a new global governance order and will play a larger role in maintaining world peace and development,” he stated.
On January 1st of this year, Egypt officially became a member of BRICS. Shafik expressed optimism about the opportunities that this membership presents for Egypt. He believes that joining the BRICS framework will open avenues for collaboration and growth in areas like green industries, technological innovation, and the digital economy, while injecting new vitality into the cooperation mechanism and fostering mutual benefits among BRICS countries.
Having previously served as Egypt’s ambassador to China and visited over 20 provinces there, Shafik remarked on the significance of China’s major initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, in contributing to world peace and development. He noted that the high-quality collaboration between Egypt and China in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative has yielded substantial benefits. “China has provided significant support to developing countries, including Egypt, and we have greatly benefited from China’s modernization experience,” he concluded.
