Holly Chikand

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a unified response to trade challenges posed by the United States, emphasising the need to build an open global economy and resist all forms of protectionism as he addressed a virtual summit of the Brics group on Monday.

“No matter how the international situation changes, we must unwaveringly promote the construction of an open world economy, share opportunities and achieve win-win outcomes through openness,” Xi told leaders of the key emerging economies, according to a readout by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

“We must maintain a multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organization and resist all forms of protectionism,” he added.

Convened by Brazilian PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the video conference comes as major economies explore coordinated resistance to trade pressure from the US.

It also comes on the heels of last week’sShanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where Xi called for member states to “defend the collective interests of the Global South” and “continue to take a clear-cut stand against hegemonism and power politics”.