Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech titled "Keeping Abreast of the Trend of the Times to Achieve Common Development" at the BRICS Business Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

JOHANNESBURG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that only by opening themselves up can different countries achieve mutual benefit, shared prosperity and sustainable development.

Therefore, BRICS countries should pursue win-win cooperation to build an open economy, Xi said while addressing a business forum at the 10th BRICS summit scheduled from July 25 to 27.

Openness and cooperation are the sure way to achieve progress in science and technology and growth of productivity, he said.

Xi called on BRICS countries to firmly promote an open world economy, be resolute in rejecting unilateralism and protectionism, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and jointly steer the global economy toward greater openness, inclusiveness, balanced growth and win-win outcomes for all.

"We should ensure that economic globalization will deliver more benefits," he said.

He also called on BRICS countries to help emerging markets and developing countries, African countries and the least developed countries in particular, fully involve themselves in international division of labor and share in the benefits of economic globalization.

The Chinese president added that a trade war should be rejected, because there will be no winner, and that economic hegemony is even more objectionable as it will undermine the collective interests of the international community.

"Those who pursue this course will only end up hurting themselves," he said.

BRICS gathers the world's major emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.