PRETORIA - Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called for pragmatic cooperation among the five BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Speaking here at the Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Wang said that, as Chinese President Xi Jinping has put it, the BRICS are like five fingers, each with its own strength; when the BRICS come together, we form a fist that can punch.

Faced with the complex changes in the international landscape, the BRICS countries should firmly stick to the political direction of BRICS cooperation, and send out a powerful message of consolidating unity and cooperation, seeking common development, upholding multilateralism and defending international fairness and justice at the upcoming BRICS summit to be held next month in Johannesburg, he said.

The Chinese state councilor urged the BRICS to deepen pragmatic economic cooperation in order to advance the common development of the five countries.

He also called for political and security cooperation among the BRICS countries to defend international fairness and justice.

Wang also called for efforts to expand the BRICS' cultural and people-to-people exchanges so as to beef up the foundation of their solidarity and coordination.

He also said that the BRICS should continuously expand the circle of friends with the "BRICS plus" model, which is focused on strengthening dialogue and cooperation between BRICS countries and other emerging markets and developing countries.

The Chinese state councilor expressed belief that with the BRICS' concerted efforts, the upcoming BRICS Summit in Johannesburg will surely achieve fruitful outcomes and usher in a good start for the BRICS' second "golden decade."