RIO DE JANEIRO: BRICS countries should strive to become the vanguard in advancing the global governance reform agenda to build a better world, Chinese Premier Li Qiang has said.

Addressing the plenary session of “Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance” of the 17th BRICS Summit on Sunday, Li called on the BRICS bloc to safeguard world peace and tranquillity and promote the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Li represented China as President Xi Jinping missed this year’s BRICS summit, the first in his over 12-year-long presidency.