During the second day of the BRICS 2026 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of enhanced cooperation among Global South nations, introducing five initiatives designed to bolster partnerships among emerging economies. Xi advocated for a global framework where rules are shaped inclusively by all nations, urging BRICS members to prioritize international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and peaceful conflict resolution. He criticized the notion of “might makes right,” insisting that global rules should be uniformly applied 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 significant proposals includes the establishment of a BRICS AI open-source community to foster collaboration on large language models and create an inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, China suggested facilitating trade and investment through initiatives like a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and introducing a new BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
In the realm of digital cooperation, China proposed the development of a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, alongside initiatives for digital skills training and technology exchanges. The intelligent manufacturing initiative aims to support the creation of smart factories and establish common standards to modernize manufacturing processes. These efforts underline China’s commitment to advancing technological and industrial collaboration within the BRICS framework.
The fifth initiative focuses on nurturing science and technology talent, including the formation of a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and youth exchange programs. These efforts are designed to promote innovation and develop a skilled workforce among the member states. By emphasizing talent development, China seeks to ensure that BRICS countries can keep pace with rapid technological advancements and contribute to global innovation.