Speaking on the final day of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on expanded BRICS members and partner countries to keep industrial and supply chains stable and uninterrupted.
Addressing the open session of the two-day summit, titled “Shaping the future of inclusive global growth: Resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability,” Xi pointed to disruptions to maritime transport in the Strait of Hormuz. The Chinese president said the situation showed the need to maintain stability in supply chains.
Call for multilateralism for the Global South
Xi called for the advantages of the expanded BRICS structure, which is based on emerging markets and connected to the Global South, to be utilized. He said openness and cooperation should be maintained to achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.
Xi said Global South countries had become one of the main forces driving the world toward multipolarity and called on countries to defend multilateralism and the rule of international law. He said international rules should be formulated with the participation of all countries.
Stating that the notion that “might makes right” should have been left behind long ago, Xi called for the authority and role of the United Nations to be preserved. He also called for support for reforms that would improve the efficiency of multilateral institutions.
Proposal for reforms in finance and trade
Xi said the international financial architecture needed to be improved and called for greater representation and decision-making power for developing countries. Saying that the World Trade Organization needed to be reformed in the right direction, Xi announced that China would continue advancing voluntary and unilateral opening-up.
Xi called for support for the operation and development of the New Development Bank and for stronger cooperation among Global South countries. He said expanded BRICS countries should build integrated markets and establish a solid foundation for practical cooperation.
Plans for artificial intelligence and digital industries
Xi said Global South countries should accelerate efforts to create a global artificial intelligence governance framework based on broad consensus. He announced that China would lead the establishment of an AI open-source zone for BRICS and said it would support the development of a digital industry cloud platform for the bloc’s countries.
Calling for the upgrading of traditional industries, the growth of emerging sectors and forward-looking plans for future industries, Xi proposed initiatives on scientific and technological talent development, smart manufacturing, digital industries, the facilitation of trade and investment, and open and inclusive artificial intelligence.
The Chinese president also proposed establishing a BRICS alliance for engineering education and a partnership for special economic zones among BRICS countries.
China’s hosting plans
Xi announced that China would host the BRICS Forum on Trade in Services in 2027. Beijing is also planning to host the bloc’s annual summit next year.
