On July 16, 2020, entrusted by leaders of the Foreign Ministry, Special Envoy on BRICS Affairs and Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Wang Xiaolong held a video meeting with the Chinese board of directors of the BRICS Women Business Alliance (WBA). Both sides exchanged views on strengthening the construction of the WBA and promoting BRICS cooperation. The meeting was chaired by Zhang Shaogang, Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and attended by Ma Lu, Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of China Committee and Director of China Resources Group; Wang Shutong, Chief Executive Officer of DHgate.com; Chen Lifang, Director and President of the Public Affairs and Communications Department of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; Wen Jia, Alibaba Group Partner and President of the Public Affairs Department; and Dong Mingzhu, Chairperson of the Board and President of Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai.

Wang Xiaolong conveyed General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on deepening BRICS cooperation, briefed on the general situation of BRICS cooperation, and made some suggestions on the work of the Chinese council members of the WBA in the next stage. Wang Xiaolong expressed, the Foreign Ministry is willing to make joint efforts with all board of directors and council members to follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, bear clearly in mind the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core and keep in alignment, develop greater confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and firmly uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position in both the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole. We need to have a stronger sense of responsibility and mission, earnestly fulfill the tasks of the WBA, and well operate, maintain and develop the BRICS mechanism, in a bid to contribute to China’s major country diplomacy in the new era.

Five Chinese board of directors expressed that they will learn General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions in an in-depth way. Guided by the Foreign Ministry and the CCPIT, they will be actively engaged in the building of the WBA, boost economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges among BRICS countries, display the charm of Chinese women in the new era, and contribute to national development and China’s diplomatic cause.