BRICS leaders take joint stance on N.Korean nuke tests

By Emre Gurkan Abay and Fuat Kabakci

XIAMEN, China

A three-day summit of five major emerging economies ended Tuesday with leaders agreeing on various issues, including a common stance against North Korea's recent nuclear tests, corruption, and terrorism.

The last session of the BRICS summit with member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa was held in the southeastern Chinese port city of Xiamen with the additional attendance of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.

The leaders slammed North Korea’s recent nuclear tests, terrorism, and corruption while agreeing to support an open and inclusive world economy and multilateral trading system.

The issues of trade, infrastructure, the economy, cyber-security, and e-trade were discussed by the BRICS leaders and other participating country leaders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who chaired the meetings, called on the BRICS to put more emphasis on an open and inclusive economy, multilateral trading system, and win-win cooperation.

Xi also highlighted the reluctance to fight climate change and difficulties in multilateral agreements.

It was also announced that the 10th BRICS summit would be held next year in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Speaking to reporters on the summit’s sidelines, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, “Sanctions will not deter North Korea from its nuclear program."

Putin also called for the re-implementation of international law and dialogue among concerned parties over the North Korea issue.

Pyongyang is barred from testing nuclear and ballistic missiles, and was recently hit with strengthened UN Security Council sanctions for launching a pair of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in July.

The UN in early August imposed new sanctions on Pyongyang with a sweeping ban on exports of coal, iron, lead, and seafood that could eliminate $1 billion in annual revenues.

North Korea on Sunday claimed to have detonated a new hydrogen bomb, confirming suspicions of the reclusive state's sixth-ever nuclear test.

Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said that the "perfect" test involved a hydrogen bomb that could be mounted on an ICBM.