In a bid to bolster collaboration among Global South nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of cooperative efforts during the ongoing BRICS 2026 Summit. On the summit’s second day, Xi unveiled a set of five initiatives designed to enhance partnerships among emerging economies. These initiatives aim to reshape global rules with a focus on inclusivity, urging BRICS countries to prioritize international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Xi firmly opposed the notion that power dictates right, advocating for uniform application of rules without double standards.
The proposed initiatives cover a broad spectrum of areas including artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the cultivation of science and technology talent. Among these, China introduced the idea of establishing a BRICS AI open-source community. This would facilitate collaboration on large language models and foster an inclusive AI ecosystem. Furthermore, China proposed a trade and investment facilitation initiative, which would encompass a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and the creation of a new BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
Digital cooperation is a key component of the initiatives, with plans for a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform. This platform would be accompanied by digital skills training and technology exchange programs. In addition, the intelligent manufacturing initiative aims to support the development of smart factories and promote common standards to modernize manufacturing processes across member countries.
The final initiative targets the development of science and technology talent. It proposes the establishment of a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance alongside youth exchange programs. These efforts are intended to promote innovation and cultivate a new generation of skilled professionals capable of driving future advancements in science and technology.