The five developing nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – issued a joint statement on Monday, stressing the need to “redress North-South development imbalances” and to “firmly oppose protectionism” – a clear challenge to US President Donald Trump's policy of tariffs to bring manufacturing jobs back home.

The bloc also confronted the monopoly of the West's post-war Bretton Woods global finance institutions. 
 
They pledged to “foster a global economic governance architecture that is more effective and reflective of current global economic landscape, increasing the voice and representation of emerging markets and developing economies.”

The declaration also addressed the West's proxy war on Syria – now approaching its end after six years – and the nuclear stand-off in the Korean Peninsula.

It welcomed “the creation of the de-escalation areas in Syria which contributed to decrease the levels of violence and generate positive momentum and conditions for meaningful progress in the peace talks” brokered by the UN.

The ceasefire zones were negotiated and guaranteed by Russia, Iran and Turkey. But the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Trump at the G20 summit in Hamburg on July 7 apparently sealed the truce.

“We reiterate that the only lasting solution to the crisis in Syria is through an inclusive 'Syrian-led, Syrian-owned' political process which safeguards the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria.”

Monday also saw a round of bilateral meetings between the leaders of the five Brics countries.

In his speech yesterday, South African president Jacob Zuma welcomed the opening of the African regional branch of the bloc's New Development Bank in Johannesburg last month.

He said: “Hopefully soon, it will also support our partners through providing development financing for infrastructure and sustainable development projects.

“The leadership of the African Union engaged the Brics leadership at an early stage, indicating its strong support for this project and the recent launch of the Africa Regional Centre is a most welcome signal of an intensifying partnership for development.”

And it reiterated “the urgent need for a just, lasting and comprehensive solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in order to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.”