In a pivotal moment for international collaboration, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation among Global South nations. Confronting a world marked by turbulence and transformation, Xi posed a critical question: should the global community allow chaos to prevail, or strive towards peace and development?
Xi presented a visionary roadmap comprising five key points aimed at positioning BRICS as a leading force in promoting peace, innovation, green development, global justice, and closer international people-to-people exchanges. He emphasized the importance of transforming the BRICS mechanism into a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South countries, while also serving as a vanguard for global governance reform.
The summit saw leaders engage in discussions on a range of pressing issues, including UN reform, regional tensions, financial security, global supply chains, climate change, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Experts have lauded Xi's proposals, highlighting them as essential strategies to address common global challenges and provide fresh insights for nations pursuing modernization.
Balew Demissie, a researcher at the Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute, underscored the significance of Xi's speech in fostering unity among BRICS members. He noted that the proposed initiatives would enhance mutual understanding and trust, ensuring the long-term development of BRICS cooperation and bolstering the capabilities of emerging markets and developing nations.
Over the past 18 years, China has been instrumental in strengthening trade and investment within BRICS, advocating for the reform of international institutions such as the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund, and amplifying the voices of the Global South.
At the summit, Xi announced the launch of several key initiatives, including the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center and the BRICS Deep-Sea Resources International Research Center. Additionally, plans were unveiled for the China Center for Cooperation on Development of Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries, the China Center for BRICS Industrial Competencies, and the BRICS Digital Ecosystem Cooperation Network.
Highlighting the commitment to sustainability, Xi pledged to leverage China's green technologies to expand cooperation in green industries, clean energy, and green mining. This initiative aims to promote green development across the entire industrial chain, aligning with BRICS' broader objectives of fostering sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.
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Experts: Xi's speech offers roadmap for Global South cooperation
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