China renews calls for unity and cooperation in the BRICS alliance

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday to strengthen unity and cooperation within the BRICS alliance, in the face of “political forces holding Cold War mentalities.” Speaking at the 14th meeting of BRICS top security officials in St. Petersburg, Wang addressed criticism aimed at the organization from some countries. We need to take into account each other’s core interests and major concerns, safeguard our respective sovereignty, security, and development interests, said Wang. The conference comes ahead of a BRICS summit next month in Kazan, which Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend. The BRICS alliance was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.