JOHANNESBURG, June 17 (Xinhua) -- As South Africa commemorated Youth Day on Sunday, youngsters here expressed their will to help promote cooperation within the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in many areas and consolidate multilateral relations.
Future leaders are among today's youth, and they should interact with their peers from BRICS to share ideas and best practices, said Penuel Maduna, a student and young activist who attended the third BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries Student Spring International Festival on June 4-9 in Russia.
"Young people from all over the BRICS countries can play a crucial role in various sectors of society," Maduna said.
He gave an example of two South African artists, Casper Nyovest and KayDee, who launched their songs in Russia last week that were well received.
He said music and arts harbor potential for BRICS countries' youth to work together. "The future of the BRICS looks very bright and a lot can be achieved if more awareness about the BRICS relations and young people are allowed to play a meaningful (role)."
Lungile Luphahla, a student at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, said he expected more interaction among youngsters from BRICS countries.
Since the BRICS countries are at different stages of development, students should share their experiences and plan their future together, so that they can learn from each other, Luphahla said.
Youth Day is celebrated in South Africa and many African countries on June 16 to remember the students in Soweto Town in Johannesburg who were shot by the apartheid government police during a peaceful march in June 16, 1976.
