Guo Weimin, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, speaks during a seminar entitled "Contributing BRICS' Wisdom to Global Governance in the Interests of the People", in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 4, 2018. More than 120 experts from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and other southern African countries gathered Wednesday at a seminar here, contributing their wisdom to global governance in the interests of the people. (Xinhua/Zhao Xi)

JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 120 experts from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and other southern African countries gathered Wednesday at a seminar here, contributing their wisdom to global governance in the interests of the people.

The theme of the seminar was "Contributing BRICS' Wisdom to Global Governance in the Interests of the People," which reflected the common wish of government leaders, think tank members and corporate executives in the "BRICS Plus" community to promote cooperation and benefit the people.

Guo Weimin, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, said the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the core has established the people-centered development thought.

The event indicates that BRICS seminars on governance under the framework of BRICS cooperation have been institutionalized, Guo said, adding that we need to adhere to the notion of equality and mutual trust, focus on the second "golden decade," and further promote the mechanism of seminars.

"Good governance... is a necessity. It is one of the most important instruments to tackle poverty. BRICS wants to play a role in transforming global governance not for the sake of transformation but for the sake of the people," said Richard Levin, principal of South African National School of Government.

"We cannot shirk our responsibilities but should ensure that all our institutions nationally and on the global level put the interests of the people first," he said.

The seminar was held as one of the important supplementary events in the run-up to the BRICS summit to be held later this month in Johannesburg.