At the BRICS 2026 Summit’s second day, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation among Global South nations, putting forth five proposals to bolster ties among emerging economies. Xi stressed the importance of all countries contributing to global rule-making, advocating for the BRICS nations to adhere to principles such as international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and peaceful conflict resolution. He criticized the notion that power justifies actions, urging for consistent application of rules without double standards.
The proposed initiatives by China concentrate on areas like artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the cultivation of science and technology talent. These initiatives aim to create collaborative frameworks that can support the growth and development of BRICS countries.
In the realm of artificial intelligence, China suggested forming an open-source community within BRICS to foster collaboration on large language models and establish an inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, a trade and investment facilitation plan was proposed, featuring a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and the establishment of a new BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
The digital cooperation strategy includes the creation of a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, along with initiatives for digital skills training and technology exchanges. Meanwhile, the intelligent manufacturing proposal seeks to promote the development of smart factories and establish common standards to advance manufacturing modernization.
Focusing on talent development in science and technology, the fifth initiative includes the formation of a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and youth exchange programs. These are intended to foster innovation and nurture skilled professionals who can contribute to the technological advancement of BRICS nations.