China’s foreign minister calls on BRICS to strengthen strategic minerals cooperation

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on BRICS countries on Tuesday to jointly respond to global challenges from Ebola to AI, and to strengthen cooperation on strategic mineral resources, according to a statement from his ministry.

Wang told a meeting in India that BRICS countries should respond to global energy and food security challenges and unite to respond to the Ebola epidemic in Africa.

The countries should resolutely combat all forms of terrorism and oppose the weaponization of outer space, Wang added, while also calling for close oversight of AI risks.

Speaking at a security meeting in New Delhi, China’s top diplomat said the group should “hold high the banner of multilateralism” and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism.

“BRICS members need to take the lead in speaking up for justice and delivering fair outcomes, and elevate their standing and role in international affairs,” Wang said.

He also urged the BRICS to back dialogue and political solutions to resolve disputes and hotspot issues.

Touching on the US-Iran conflict, Wang said it underscored the importance of upholding international rules, respecting sovereignty and adapting to evolving forms of warfare such as cyber and information warfare.

“Traditional and non-traditional security threats are increasingly intertwined, making it timely for BRICS to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on security affairs,” Wang told the meeting, according to a separate report from state agency Xinhua.

(By Shi Bu and Liz Lee; Editing by Gareth Jones)