China - October 30, 2024 BRICS to accelerate standardization cooperation (Voice_over) The BRICS Trade Development and Standards Cooperation Forum in Beijing has brought together over 500 delegates from trade organizations, business associations, and industries. The focus: to boost trade efficiency and create sustainable development through unified standards. The gathering comes at a crucial time, as BRICS enters a new phase following its recent expansion. (Sound_bite) Zhang Shaogang, Vice chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade: "The group rise of emerging market countries and developing countries represented by BRICS is fundamentally changing the pattern of world economic development. The BRICS' influence and attractiveness have further expanded. Member states are strengthening economic ties, expanding sustainable development opportunities, and unlocking cooperation potential." (Voice_over) Experts find international standards essential to removing barriers, streamlining trade, and acting as accelerators for economic partnerships across diverse sectors… including e-commerce, services and more. (Sound_bite) Rajesh Bhuyan, Director, Trustea: "And considering the fact that developing countries are in a pathway to progress and greater economic achievement, standardization will bring them to platform where they can take the rightful place in the global business world." (Voice_over) The forum concluded with concrete achievements, namely the release of new sustainability guidelines and a bilateral standard on sustainable tourism between China and Brazil. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]