At the BRICS 2026 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of stronger alliances among Global South nations, suggesting five strategic initiatives to bolster cooperation among emerging economies. Xi highlighted the need for global rules crafted by all nations, advocating for BRICS countries to support international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and peaceful dispute resolution. He criticized approaches where power dictates outcomes and called for fair application of rules without bias.
The proposed initiatives cover key areas such as artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the development of science and technology talent. China recommended establishing a BRICS AI open-source community to foster collaboration on large language models and create an inclusive AI ecosystem. It also suggested a trade and investment facilitation initiative, which would include a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and the formation of a new BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
In the realm of digital cooperation, plans were unveiled for a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, which would be complemented by digital skills training and technology exchanges. China also aims to enhance intelligent manufacturing by supporting the development of smart factories and establishing common standards to modernize the sector.
The fifth initiative concentrates on nurturing science and technology talent, proposing the establishment of a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance along with youth exchange programs. These initiatives are designed to foster innovation and develop a pool of skilled professionals capable of driving future advancements in their respective fields.