Guqingyang, associate professor of Lee Kuan Yew School of public policy at the National University of Singapore, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency recently that the BRICs countries have made positive progress in cooperation in green development, science and technology application, digital economy, energy infrastructure construction and other aspects. Further deepening and expanding BRICs cooperation is more conducive to pooling the joint efforts of developing countries and meeting global challenges. Guqingyang said that the New Development Bank of the BRICs countries had "expanded" its capacity last year and announced the approval of the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Bangladesh and Egypt as new member states. In the future, BRICs countries can further strengthen the BRICs cooperation mechanism and gradually expand its capacity, deeply integrate with the existing United Nations sustainable development projects and the "the Belt and Road" projects, and expand the space for cooperation and development. Guqingyang also said that the current global situation is grim, and many countries have not recovered from the epidemic. Emerging economies and developing countries are facing challenges such as poverty, lagging public health and unbalanced industrial development, which will have a great impact on the achievement of the UN 2030 sustainable development goals. He said that the BRICs countries represent more than 40% of the world's population and more than 20% of the world's economic aggregate, and have a better understanding of the demands of developing countries. Therefore, the BRICs cooperation mechanism will play an important role in helping developing countries cope with epidemics and development challenges. Guqingyang said that the world needs to reform the international political and economic order, strengthen global governance and innovate development thinking. China can make contributions in this regard. He said that unilateralism, zero sum game and cold war thinking are very detrimental to global development, especially to developing countries. Mankind should draw lessons from history, move towards global unity and pursue development together. He said that China's inclusive thinking is what the world needs now. China and other BRICs countries represent the ideas of developing countries. They urgently feel that inclusive development, multilateralism and promoting mutual benefit on the basis of the UN Charter and international law are extremely important. China's assumption of the presidency of the BRICs countries this year will inject a "new atmosphere" into the development of the BRICs countries, developing countries and even the world. With regard to the contributions made by the BRICs mechanism, Gu Qingyang said that the BRICs platform is an international cooperation platform mainly established by developing countries and emerging economies, constantly strengthening dialogue and cooperation in economic development. In 2020, the BRICs new industrial revolution partnership innovation base was officially launched in Xiamen, which will help developing countries take the development path led by modern science and technology. The New Development Bank of the BRICs countries also provides the developing countries with the necessary financial support in the development of infrastructure. Guqingyang said that global poverty is a major challenge for developing countries, and poverty is mainly related to food shortages and other issues. Therefore, solving the problems of food and poverty is an urgent battle for developing countries. He said that China's proposal to explore the establishment of a BRICs rural development working group, the signing of a memorandum on food security cooperation, the promotion of sustainable agricultural and rural development in the five countries and the achievement of the goal of eradicating poverty and zero hunger deserve high recognition. (Xinhua News Agency)