2010-09-22 11:09

NEW YORK - Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday expressed hope that the four BRIC countries -- China, India, Russia and Brazil -- will further strengthen coordination and cooperation.

Yang made the appeal as he chaired a meeting of BRIC foreign ministers in New York.

Yang told his BRIC counterparts that the four countries have constantly enhanced their cooperation in a more defined direction and within an increasingly mature mechanism, thus increasing their influences in the international arena.

He hoped that the four countries will further strengthen coordination, build a solid foundation for cooperation and broaden areas of cooperation so as to uphold the common interests of developing countries.

The foreign ministers held discussions over issues including cooperation among emerging market countries, the reform of the international financial architecture and global economic governance as well as international development cooperation.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the UN high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which began Monday.

On Tuesday, the Chinese foreign minister also held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

Yang told Lavrov that frequent contacts at high-levels between China and Russia have fully demonstrated the high standard of Sino- Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.

China hopes both sides will further enhance communication and coordination so as to elevate their cooperation in all areas to a new level, Yang said.

Lavrov said that Russia is willing to work with China to deepen cooperation in all areas and strengthen coordination and cooperation on major international and regional issues so as to continue to move forward bilateral relations.