During the BRICS 2026 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation among nations of the Global South, proposing a series of initiatives aimed at fortifying ties among emerging economies. His call to action is rooted in the belief that global rules should be crafted collaboratively by all countries. Xi urged BRICS members to uphold principles such as international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and peaceful dispute resolution, while rejecting any approach that favors power over fairness. He advocated for consistent application of rules without double standards.
The proposed initiatives by China focus on five key areas: artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the development of science and technology talent. One of the central proposals is the establishment of a BRICS AI open-source community designed to foster collaboration on large language models and create a more inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, China suggested a trade and investment facilitation initiative, which includes forming a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and launching a new BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
In the realm of digital cooperation, China has outlined plans to create a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform aimed at enhancing digital skills training and promoting technology exchanges. The intelligent manufacturing initiative will see China supporting the development of smart factories and establishing common standards to modernize the manufacturing sector.
Furthermore, the focus on science and technology talent is underscored by the proposal to form a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance. This initiative also includes youth exchange programs intended to foster innovation and cultivate skilled professionals, ensuring a future-ready workforce across the member nations.