Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged BRICS countries to strengthen partnerships for common development. At the bloc's leaders meeting in Sanya, the President said BRICS cooperation has contributed to the economic and social development of the five countries.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said Thursday that reforming and improving the global economic governance and increasing the say and representation of emerging economies and developing nations would be conducive to world peace and common prosperity.

Hu made the remarks while meeting the media with leaders of other BRICS countries after a meeting in China's southern beach side resort of Sanya.

Hu Jintao, Chinese President, said, "We should stay firmly committed to the common interests of BRICS countries, step up coordination in the international economic, financial and development fields and strengthen the standing and role of emerging markets and developing countries in global economic governance."

Hu noted that the five nations agreed to further develop cooperation potentials on economy and trade, health-care and culture.

The Sanya Declaration, a documents reached at the summit indicated the leaders' consensus on major issues like global economy, finance and development and outlined the countries' future cooperation.

Recognizing the BRICS countries' positive contribution in promoting global economic recovery, Hu said the countries would continue to push for a robust, sustainable and balanced growth in the world's economy.

BRICS is an acronym for five fast-growing emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Combined gross domestic product of the nations accounted for 18 percent of the world's total in 2010.

Thursday's BRICS leaders meeting is the third one in as many years although it is the first for South Africa. The previous two BRIC leaders meetings were held in Russia in 2009 and in Brazil in 2010.

The BRICS leaders also agreed to hold the next BRICS summit in India next year.