A cup of hospitality, solidarity at summit

Zhang Yunbi

Having a great cup of tea together by using the same set of cups symbolizes hospitality and quality time with friends.

That was in a sense true for the 14th BRICS Summit that took place in virtual mode on Thursday.

Due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, this year's summit, chaired by China, was held through video link like the summits in the past two years.

But the virtual mode did not mean that President Xi Jinping could not share the joy of being in the same room with his guests from afar.

After video links were established prior to the summit, reporters found that there was a well-made Chinese teacup of the same kind placed before each of the five leaders.

It was a blue and white enamel porcelain cup featuring patterns of auspicious Chinese flowers, a necessity when Chinese people host distinguished guests.

Leaders enjoyed drinking from the teacups during the event.

The cups were part of a hospitality package the Chinese organizers prepared in advance for the guests and were delivered and put in place before the talks got underway.

Of course, Chinese tea couldn't be left out. Delivered together with the cups to all guests was Big Red Robe (dahongpao), a legendary Chinese oolong flavored tea.

While the cups were placed on the right hand side of each leader, to their left could be seen a wooden holder and nameplate carrying the name of each of their countries.

The nameplate holder featuring patterns of flowers was made of a kind of rosewood often used to make high-end Chinese furniture.

"We hope that all the leaders can feel the hospitality of the Chinese host while meeting each other on the 'cloud'," said Hong Lei, director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Protocol Department.

As an innovation helping the virtual summit enshrine solidarity, the organizers prepared a special group photo that was displayed on screen at the start of the summit.

It was an edited photo that put the standing figures of the five leaders together to make them look like they were smiling and posing for real photojournalists on a red carpet.

The idea of togetherness, reunion and unity was also honored by the logo of this year's summit. Its pattern strictly follows the logo of the BRICS Xiamen Summit in 2017, featuring five sails of five different colors being blown by the wind.

The pattern indicating a giant seagoing vessel of BRICS cooperation means that "the five nations are committed to weathering the storm together and riding winds and tides toward a bright future", Hong said.

This year's summit demonstrates the BRICS countries' commitment to major international and regional issues such as multilateralism, international fairness and justice, cooperation in fighting the pandemic, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, said Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.

At the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People on Friday, the venue of another major event-"BRICS plus"－was graced by flags representing 18 countries.

The 18 countries are the five BRICS nations and 13 other developing countries from around the world attending the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development.

The glamorous Golden Hall is often used to treat state guests.