China is calling on other emerging economies to maintain their commitment to global development in an increasingly risky economic climate.

Speaking at an international summit of BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - Chinese president Xi Jinping said developing nations need to work closely to build an open world economy and continue to drive global growth.

His comments come in response to the recent difficulties encountered in multilateral trade negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, as well as recent resistance to implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Mr Xi said: "Recently, the world economy has taken a turn for the better; international trade and investment has picked up. At the same time, we must take note that risk and uncertainty in the world economy are also increasing."

He added that many countries have become more inward-looking and resistant to global development cooperation, with his comments positioning China as a new champion of globalization, following the recent embrace of protectionism in the US under Donald Trump.