NEW DELHI -- Chinese President Hu Jintao, after attending a summit of the world's top emerging economies, left Friday for Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia.

In New Delhi, the Chinese president attended the fourth summit of BRICS, which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The leaders of the five countries discussed political, economic and social issues of mutual and international interest.

At the meeting, Hu elaborated on China's position on global governance, sustainable development and cooperation among BRICS countries.

Hu said BRICS members should take cooperation to a new level as their current cooperation was "at a new starting point."

"The BRICS countries are an integral part of the big family of emerging markets, and developing countries, and we are forces for world peace and common development," he said.

"We need to seek ways to build on past achievements and take BRICS cooperation to a new level through pioneering efforts," he said.

The president made the following proposals on BRICS cooperation:

-- To stay committed to common development and promote common prosperity.

-- To stay committed to consultation on an equal footing and deepen political trust.

-- To stay committed to practical cooperation and firm up the basis for cooperation.

-- To stay committed to international cooperation and promote the development of the whole world.

"I am convinced that, with the further improvement of its mechanism, BRICS cooperation will produce more fruitful results. This will not only help enhance the well-being of our people, but also contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity," Hu said.

As major emerging markets, the BRICS countries account for 42 percent of the world's population, 20 percent of the world's gross domestic product and 15 percent of global trade.

Hu started the current trip from Seoul, where he attended the Nuclear Security Summit and explained China's position on international cooperation in nuclear security.