During the BRICS 2026 Summit’s second day, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of increased cooperation among Global South countries, introducing five key initiatives designed to enhance collaboration among emerging economies. Xi underscored the necessity for global rules to be shaped inclusively by all nations, urging BRICS members to uphold principles such as international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. He criticized the notion of “might makes right” and advocated for a fair application of rules without any double standards.
The initiatives introduced by Xi cover areas critical to future economic development, including artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and science and technology talent cultivation. China’s proposal for a BRICS AI open-source community aims to foster cooperation on large language models and develop an inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, a trade and investment facilitation initiative was suggested, which includes partnerships for BRICS special economic zones and the establishment of a new BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
Within the scope of digital cooperation, there are plans to create a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform. This initiative also includes digital skills training and technology exchange programs to boost collaboration. The intelligent manufacturing initiative sees China supporting the establishment of smart factories and the development of common standards, which are intended to modernize the manufacturing sector across BRICS nations.
Focusing on the development of science and technology talent, China proposed forming a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance, alongside youth exchange programs that aim to promote innovation and cultivate skilled professionals. These programs are designed to strengthen the foundation of science and technology within these nations, ensuring a robust pipeline of talent for future advancements.