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 their industrial and supply chains stable and uninterrupted. Xi pointed to the impact of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz on maritime transport.
Speaking at the open session of the two-day summit, titled “Shaping the future of inclusive global growth: Resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability,” Xi said stability in supply chains must be maintained.
Emphasis on the Global South and multilateralism
Xi said the advantages created by the expanded BRICS’ structure, which is based on emerging markets and connected to the Global South, should be utilized. Calling for openness and cooperation to be maintained for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, Xi said Global South countries had become one of the main forces moving the world toward multipolarity.
Calling on countries to defend multilateralism and the rule of international law, Xi said international rules should be formulated with the joint participation of all countries. Xi said the notion that “might makes right” should have been abandoned long ago and called for the authority and role of the United Nations to be preserved.
Xi also said reforms that would increase the efficiency of multilateral institutions should be supported.
Reform proposals for finance and trade
Calling for the international financial architecture to be improved, Xi urged greater representation and decision-making power for developing countries. Saying that the World Trade Organization needed to be reformed in the right direction, Xi said China would continue advancing voluntary and unilateral opening-up.
Xi called for support for the operation and development of the New Development Bank and urged stronger cooperation among Global South countries. He said expanded BRICS countries should create integrated markets and establish a solid foundation for practical cooperation.
Artificial intelligence and digital industry initiatives
Xi said Global South countries should accelerate efforts to establish a global artificial intelligence governance framework based on broad consensus. Announcing that China would lead the creation of an artificial intelligence open-source zone for BRICS, Xi said it would support the development of a digital industry cloud platform for the bloc’s countries.
Calling for the development of traditional industries, the expansion of new sectors and forward-looking plans for the industries of the future, Xi proposed initiatives on science and technology talent development, intelligent manufacturing, the digital industry, trade and investment facilitation, and open and inclusive artificial intelligence.
The Chinese president also proposed establishing a BRICS alliance for engineering education and creating a partnership among BRICS countries on special economic zones.
China’s hosting plans
Xi announced that China would host the BRICS Forum on Trade in Services in 2027. Beijing is also expected to host the bloc’s annual summit next year.
