NEW DELHI, September 13: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday unveiled five new cooperation initiatives for BRICS covering artificial intelligence, trade, digital industries, smart manufacturing and technology talent, while urging the bloc to strengthen coordination across the Global South.
Speaking on the second day of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Xi said emerging and developing economies had become an increasingly important force in a more multipolar world and called on BRICS members to play what he described as a stabilising and constructive role in global affairs.
His proposals would expand practical cooperation among BRICS members at a time when the enlarged grouping is seeking greater influence over global economic governance, technology policy and international institutions.
Xi Proposes BRICS AI and Digital Cooperation
Xi said China would take the lead in establishing a BRICS artificial intelligence open-source community designed to encourage cooperation on large language models, AI applications, specialist training and an open technology ecosystem.
He also proposed the creation of a BRICS digital industry cloud platform to support digital skills training, technology exchanges and closer links between industries in member states.
Under a separate smart manufacturing initiative, China offered to assist BRICS countries in developing smart factories and common standards aimed at supporting industrial modernisation.
Xi also proposed a BRICS engineering training alliance that would promote joint education programmes and mutual recognition of professional competency standards, alongside a youth exchange programme focused on science and technological innovation.
New Trade and Investment Initiative
On economic cooperation, Xi proposed a BRICS special economic zone partnership that could include an integrated digital portal and greater coordination of investment and trade policies.
China also plans to host a BRICS Forum on Trade in Services in 2027 as part of efforts to develop new areas of commercial cooperation among member states.
Xi said BRICS should strengthen supply chains, expand cooperation among emerging markets and build a larger integrated market capable of supporting investment, innovation and industrial development.
Xi Calls for Stronger Global South Voice
Beyond economic cooperation, Xi urged Global South countries to defend sovereign equality, non-interference and peaceful settlement of disputes while supporting a stronger role for the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
He also called for reforms to the World Trade Organization and the international financial system to give developing economies greater representation and influence.
BRICS finance ministers and central bank governors have separately called for reforms to international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, arguing that emerging economies should have a greater voice in global financial governance.
Xi also called for closer coordination on traditional and non-traditional security challenges, climate governance and artificial intelligence rules.
The summit comes as BRICS continues to expand beyond its original members. The group now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, alongside a group of partner countries.
Leaders meeting in New Delhi have also sought common ground on geopolitical tensions, with the bloc adopting a joint declaration calling for restraint and diplomatic engagement amid heightened conflict in the Middle East.