China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged BRICS countries to deepen financial and economic cooperation, saying the need for reform of the international financial architecture is becoming more urgent.

Xi, speaking at the BRICS summit in Russia's city of Kazan, called for a de-escalation in the Ukrainian crisis, and for no further expansion of the battlefield.

He also called for a ceasefire in the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.

(Reporting by Ethan Wang, Ella Cao and Liz Lee; Editing by Andrew Heavens)