The seventh meeting of BRICS senior representatives on security issues will be held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday. Senior security officials from South Africa, Brazil, Russia and India will attend.

The meeting, presided over by State Councilor Yang Jiechi, is one of a series of BRICS meetings during China's rotating presidency of the BRICS bloc this year.

Lu said State Security Minister David Mahlobo of South Africa, Secretary of Institutional Security Sergio Etchegoyen of Brazil, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev of Russia and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval of India have confirmed their attendance.

"The meeting on security issues is a major platform for BRICS countries to discuss and conduct cooperation in politics and security fields," Lu said in a daily news conference in Beijing.

"It bears great significance for these countries to strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust and elevate their impact on global affairs."

As agreed by all parties, those at the meeting will discuss on topics including global governance, anti-terrorism, internet security and energy security, as well as major international and regional hot spot issues and national security and development, Lu said.

The meeting comes at a time when regional hot spot issues are heating up, threats from internet security and terrorism are rising and challenges from traditional and nontraditional security fields are intertwined.

"China hopes the security meeting will further maintain common interests, push forward political and security cooperation among the BRICS countries, improve the impact of the bloc, and prepare for the BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Xiamen this September," Lu said.

Since early this year, a series of BRICS meetings have been held.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/25/2017 page3)