During the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also serves as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (CPCCC) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), called on Sunday for greater BRICS cooperation, promoting five specific initiatives.
Rise of the Global South and multipolarity amid a volatile international landscape
Xi noted that the rise of the Global South (GS) in the current era has become a key driver of world multipolarity, yet the international landscape remains volatile and fraught with risks and challenges.
Xi suggested that to stabilize and improve the world, BRICS countries should jointly seize the historical narrative; rally the GS; be an active, stabilizing, and positive force in international affairs; and advance the well-being of all humanity.
Xi said, “A world without rules is like a crossroads without traffic lights, where chaos and disorder are all but guaranteed. Fairness and justice [are universal aspirations], and international rules must be written by all countries.” He noted that the law of the jungle does not hold and this logic of “might makes right” should have been discarded long ago.
All countries are equal members of the international community, regardless of size, strength, wealth: Xi
Xi called on GS countries to jointly defend established international law; safeguard the basic norms of international relations, including sovereign equality, noninterference in internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes; and ensure that international law and international rules are applied to all, free from double standards.
“All countries, regardless of their size, strength, or wealth, are equal members of the international community,” Xi said. He called on GS countries to hold high the banner of multilateralism, uphold the authority and role of the United Nations (UN), support multilateral institutions in advancing reform and increasing efficiency, and ensure the equal participation of all countries in international affairs.
Xi called on GS countries to ensure the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) proceeds in the right direction and actively support the operation and development of the New Development Bank (NDB) to facilitate South-South cooperation. He asserted that “the international financial architecture must be reformed and improved to increase the representation and voice of developing countries.”
People-first governance, philosophy
Xi noted that “to achieve great things, one should always put the people first.” He called on GS countries to adhere to a people-centered development philosophy and work toward realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He noted that China will continue to open up and share the opportunities of China’s development with other countries.
Xi noted that the rise of global challenges calls for a holistic approach to address both the symptoms and root causes. He called on GS countries to jointly advance security governance and defend against both traditional and non-traditional security threats.
He also stressed the importance of improving global climate governance and creating a consensus-based global AI governance framework to light the way toward shared prosperity.
Director of the Center for China Studies in Nigeria, Charles Onunaiju, noted that this solidarity unlocks partnerships and unlocks a democratic, open, and inclusive international system.
Former Kazakh vice minister for investment and development Rakhim Oshakbayev, who currently directs the TALAP Center for Applied Research in Kazakhstan, said BRICS cooperation should “bring together developing countries’ shared aspirations and promote coordination and cooperation.” He added that BRICS countries should jointly seek common interests and ensure internal coordination amid a fast-growing BRICS grouping.
Greater BRICS cooperation
Xi called for BRICS to jointly leverage its close ties with fellow emerging markets and GS countries, uphold open cooperation for mutual benefit, safeguard stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and foster a large integrated market. He suggested, “We should build incubators for innovation, upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging industries, and deploy future industries.”
Xi proposed five initiatives in total in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), trade and investment facilitation, digital industry, intelligent manufacturing, and science and technology talent development.
Open-source and inclusive AI
Xi noted that China will be “a pioneer” in establishing a BRICS AI open-source community, support the cooperation in developing and applying large language models (LLMs), hold specialized AI seminars and training courses, and build an open ecosystem for AI.
Trade and investment facilitation
Xi proposed the development of a BRICS special economic zone partnership, “under which countries can set up an intelligent portal, coordinate policies, and build a new frontier for open development.” In order to foster new forces for trade and economic cooperation, Xi continued, China will host the BRICS Forum on Trade in Services in 2027.
Digital industry cooperation
In order to jointly facilitate the growth of the digital economy, Xi stated that China will advocate for the creation of a cloud platform for the BRICS digital ecosystem and engage in technology exchanges, industrial alignment, and training in digital skills.
Intelligent manufacturing cooperation
Xi noted that China is prepared to support other BRICS nations in constructing smart factories, creating standards and guidelines, and cooperatively advancing manufacturing modernization and transformation.
Science and technology talent development
Finally, Xi said China proposes to set up a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance for joint development of engineers and mutual recognition of competency standards. He noted that China will launch a BRICS youth exchange program to cultivate high-calibre talent in science and technology.
Promote cooperation, write a new chapter of strength through unity
Xi concluded by noting the launch of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development, which he described as “both a blueprint for China’s development and a cooperation list for the rest of the world.”
“China will continue to advance high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, implement the Global Development Initiative, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to share opportunities and prosper together with all countries,” Xi said. “Let us work as one to promote greater BRICS cooperation and write a new chapter of strength through unity for the Global South!”
I trust him on his word more than most leaders.
He’s giving everyone a step by step process to become china, love that “ 101 how to develop and run your country