China International Publishing Group (CIPG) on Friday established partnerships with four think tanks from the other four BRICS countries to increase people-to-people exchanges and ease communication among intellectual organizations within the influential block.

The signing ceremony came after the closing of a two-day BRICS seminar on governance.

CIPG agreed to enter into partnerships with the Center China & Brazil: Research & Business, the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the University of Delhi and Institute of Chinese Studies, as well as South Africa's Thinker Magazine

According to the bilateral agreements, they will mainly engage in information sharing, staff exchanges, cooperation in academic research, as well as routine discussions and communications.

The future of the BRICS hinges not only on the top planning on the government level, but also on communications and exchanges of civil society, especially from the concerted efforts of think tanks, said Wang Gangyi, CIPG's vice president.

He hoped that all parties could pool wisdom together to drive a new model of global governance and south-south cooperation.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Ma Jiantang, the executive vice president of the Chinese Academy of Governance, Tuo Zhen, the deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Zhang Fuhai, CIPG's president.

The Chinese Academy of Governance also set up a partnership with international think tanks during the event.