The Sanya summit is held as Japan struggles to contain the nuclear crisis caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and political unrest sweeps through North Africa and the Middle East. The BRICS countries will exchange views and attempt to coordinate their stance on these issues so as to strengthen mutual cooperation.

China, Russia, India and Brazil all abstained on the UN Resolution 1973 that authorized a no-fly zone over Libya. South Africa voted in favor, but opposes western military operations against Libya, and is supporting the "African Union Roadmap" to a solution of the crisis. If the summit can reach an agreement to support an Africa proposal to end attacks on civilians and safeguard Libya's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it will be helpful for efforts to find a peaceful and political solution to the crisis.

The Japan nuclear crisis has raised fresh concerns on the future use of nuclear power. But the BRICS countries all need nuclear power to support their development. They are likely to use this summit as an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences and reach agreement on this issue to meet the challenges raised by natural disasters.

This summit will also contribute to stabilizing the economic recovery and promoting sustainable and balanced development. It will give the BRICS another chance to coordinate their stance and make preparations for the G20 Summit later this year. BRICS will continue to actively promote gradual reform of the international financial system.

Not all developed countries want to see a united and strong BRICS. Some are even trying to sow discord between the BRICS by reviving ideological differences and historical issues. But the idea that the BRICS will attempt to rival or even replace the G7 is simply not sensible. The BRICS countries have no such wish, and there is no such possibility. What they actually want is to advance world peace and development, to support each other's basic interests and to achieve equality and mutual benefit.

Wang Yusheng is the executive director of the Center for Strategic Studies in the China Foundation for International Studies (CFIS).

(This article was written in Chinese and translated by Zhang Ming'ai.)

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