JOHANNESBURG, July 26 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed on Thursday the need for the BRICS countries to cooperate in preparation for the fourth industrial revolution, saying it will have profound implications for the world.
The BRICS bloc groups together Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, five of the world's emerging economies.
Addressing delegates at the ongoing 10th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said that while the fourth industrial revolution presents the world with opportunities, its impact on economies remains unpredictable.
Ramaphosa, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship of BRICS this year, said the fourth industrial revolution "has the potential to solve many of the social problems we face by better equipping us to combat disease, hunger and environmental degradation."
"There is no area of economic activity that is immune from technological disruption," he added, calling for "comprehensive and integrated" response of BRICS countries to cope with the challenges.
The fourth industrial revolution, Ramaphosa said, "is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres," citing the remarks by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum.
He said new technologies that come along with the revolution will "translate the vision of the second decade of BRICS cooperation into reality through deepened cooperation on industrialization, innovation, inclusiveness and investment."
According to Ramaphosa, the BRICS countries have decided to set up the "BRICS Partnership on the New Industrial Revolution."
Under the theme of "BRICS in Africa: collaboration for inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution," the summit runs from Wednesday to Friday.
