During the second day of the BRICS 2026 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation among countries in the Global South. He proposed five initiatives designed to fortify collaboration among emerging economies. Xi underscored the importance of shaping global rules collectively, urging BRICS nations to adhere to international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and peaceful dispute resolution. He criticized the “might makes right” approach and advocated for equal application of rules without double standards.
The proposed initiatives target key areas such as artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the development of science and technology talent. China suggested establishing a BRICS AI open-source community to facilitate cooperation on large language models, aiming to create a more inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, a trade and investment facilitation initiative was proposed, 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, the initiatives include creating a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, along with programs for digital skills training and technology exchanges. For intelligent manufacturing, China expressed its intention to support the development of smart factories and the establishment of common standards to modernize manufacturing processes.
The fifth initiative places a focus on nurturing science and technology talent. This includes forming a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and developing youth exchange programs aimed at fostering innovation and equipping professionals with necessary skills. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to promote international cooperation and development among emerging economies within the BRICS framework.