Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Sunday that enhanced cooperation among Brazil, Russia, India and China, or the BRIC countries, is beneficial to the world.

He said it is true that the countries each have their own features, but they are at a similar stage of development and level of economy, and they have close positions on a series of international issues.

"In the face of increasing global challenges, the BRIC countries have enhanced cooperation among them and with other countries in an active, pragmatic, open and transparent manner," he told a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature.

"I believe that is in the interest of the world," Yang said. "We wish the second BRIC summit to be held in Brazil this April a full success."

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2010)