Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for deeper BRICS cooperation, stronger unity among Global South countries and a more balanced international order, saying the grouping should play an active role in promoting global stability, development and shared prosperity.
Addressing the BRICS Summit hosted by India, Xi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for hosting the meeting. He said the world was undergoing rapid changes and that the collective rise of the Global South had become an important force behind the development of a multipolar international system.
Xi Calls for Global South to Strengthen Multilateralism
Xi said the international environment was facing growing volatility, risks and challenges, requiring BRICS countries to take greater responsibility in international affairs.
He compared a world without commonly accepted rules to a crossroads without traffic lights, warning that such a situation could lead to disorder and instability. He stressed that international rules should be developed collectively by countries rather than being determined by a select few.
According to Xi, the principle that “might makes right” should have no place in international relations. He called on Global South nations to defend the rule of law, uphold sovereign equality, respect non-interference in internal affairs and support the peaceful settlement of disputes.
He also emphasised that international law and global rules should be implemented consistently without double standards.
Reform of UN and Global Financial Institutions
Xi said countries should be treated equally irrespective of their size, strength or economic wealth. He urged Global South countries to continue supporting multilateralism and strengthen the authority and role of the United Nations.
He called for reforms aimed at making multilateral institutions more representative and effective, while ensuring that developing countries have greater participation in international decision-making.
Xi also backed reforms of the World Trade Organization and highlighted the importance of principles such as most-favoured-nation treatment. He urged countries to explore new rules capable of addressing future economic challenges.
The Chinese leader further called for greater support for the New Development Bank and said the international financial architecture should be improved to increase the representation and voice of developing nations.
Focus on People-Centred Development
Xi placed people-centred development at the heart of his vision for stronger Global South cooperation. He said countries should work toward delivering the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
He highlighted China’s Global Development Initiative, saying that since its launch five years ago, more than 2,000 projects had been implemented in cooperation with other countries and training had been provided to more than 200,000 professionals.
Xi also said China was expanding its economic opening and had introduced zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
He said China would continue expanding unilateral and independent opening up while sharing opportunities arising from its economic development with other nations.
AI, Climate and Global Security Cooperation
Xi called for a comprehensive approach to emerging global challenges, covering both their immediate effects and underlying causes.
He urged Global South countries to strengthen cooperation on security governance and address traditional as well as nontraditional security threats. He also called for stronger global climate governance and full implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Also Read — BRICS Gives Major Boost To Traditional Medicine With Landmark TCIM Working Group Push
On artificial intelligence, Xi advocated a people-centred approach and called for AI to be developed and used for positive purposes. He urged countries to accelerate efforts toward a consensus-based global framework for AI governance.
Five Initiatives to Deepen BRICS Cooperation
Xi proposed five initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation among BRICS members and other emerging economies.
The first was an open-source and inclusive AI initiative, under which China would support a BRICS AI open-source community, cooperation on large language models, specialised seminars and training programmes.
The second was a trade and investment facilitation initiative, including a proposed BRICS special economic zone partnership and an intelligent portal to improve policy coordination. China also announced plans to host a BRICS Forum on Trade in Services next year.
The third initiative focuses on digital industry cooperation, including the proposed establishment of a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, digital skills training and technological exchanges.
The fourth initiative covers intelligent manufacturing, with China offering cooperation in smart factories, standards and manufacturing transformation.
The fifth initiative seeks to strengthen science and technology talent development through a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and a youth exchange programme focused on scientific and technological innovation.
China Pitches Development Plan as Global Cooperation Opportunity
Xi said China’s 15th Five-Year Plan would serve not only as a blueprint for the country’s economic and social development but also as a potential cooperation platform for other countries.
He said China would continue pursuing high-quality development, expanding high-standard opening up, advancing the Global Development Initiative and promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Xi concluded by calling on BRICS members to work together to deepen cooperation and build greater strength through unity, particularly across the Global South.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates and exclusive coverage.
