Contribute the power of "Big BRIC" to building a community with a shared future for mankind (Ambassador's Essay)
At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Republic of India, President Xi Jinping went to New Delhi, India, from September 12 to 13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. This summit coincides with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the BRICS cooperation mechanism. China will work with BRICS member states and partner countries to review the glorious history of BRICS cooperation and jointly draw a new blueprint for high-quality development of the "Greater BRICS".
The BRICS cooperation mechanism was born out of the historical trend of the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries. Over the past 20 years, the world has undergone profound adjustments. The BRICS mechanism has adhered to its original aspirations, kept pace with the times, developed amidst changes, and grown stronger in cooperation. Today, the BRICS countries come from four continents, account for nearly half of the world's population, account for about 30% of the world's total economic output, and contribute more than 50% to world economic growth. They have become the "golden sign" of unity and cooperation in the global South.
In the past 20 years, the BRICS has gathered momentum for development. The BRICS countries gather "rich minerals", "big factories" and "big markets", with different resource endowments and complementary industrial advantages. Over the past 20 years, BRICS countries have continuously expanded cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and finance, technological innovation, and green development, established and improved cooperation mechanisms such as the New Development Bank and emergency reserve arrangements, deepened the partnership for the new industrial revolution, and promoted the advantages of all parties to transform into synergy for development. So far, the New Development Bank has approved more than 140 projects, with cumulative financing exceeding US$40 billion. The BRICS Innovation Base has signed a total of 138 cooperation projects, with an investment amount exceeding US$9 billion. The "Greater BRICS Cooperation" has continued to deepen and become more practical, providing important support for southern countries to join hands in realizing modernization, and also contributing to the promotion of a more inclusive and inclusive economic globalization.
In the past 20 years, BRIC has opened up a new situation in governance. In the face of the dispute between multilateralism and unilateralism, justice and hegemony, BRICS countries have always held high the banner of multilateralism, firmly defended the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and unequivocally opposed hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism, promoted the reform of the international monetary and financial system, and promoted the construction of a more just and reasonable international order. Faced with the global governance deficit, BRICS countries have coordinated their voices around climate change, artificial intelligence governance, food and energy security, public health and other issues. In the face of geopolitical hotspots, BRICS countries have strengthened communication and coordination and advocated resolving disputes and achieving peace through political and diplomatic channels. Under the leadership of the BRICS, the global South is no longer the "silent majority" and has increasingly become an important force promoting changes in the global governance system.
The 20 years of BRIC have demonstrated the principle of inclusiveness. From the original "BRIC" to the expanded BRICS family, the BRICS mechanism has always upheld the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, and the road to cooperation has become wider and wider. Since the expansion process began, six new members have joined and 10 countries have become partners. More and more countries are looking forward to opening the door to the BRICS. BRICS countries have different national conditions and systems, but they have always treated each other as equals, sought common ground while reserving differences, respected each other's independently chosen development paths, enhanced understanding and built consensus through exchanges and mutual learning. Over the years, countries have continuously deepened exchanges in youth, education, culture, think tanks and other fields, and the ties between peoples have become stronger and stronger, building bridges of friendship across mountains and seas.
Over the past 20 years, China has always been an important participant, builder and promoter of the BRICS. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping has grasped the general development trend from a global perspective and proposed a series of important concepts and initiatives at many key nodes of BRICS cooperation, injecting unique Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions into the development and growth of BRICS. From pioneering the "BRICS+" cooperation model, to promoting the expansion of BRICS, from proposing the important concept of "high-quality development of 'Greater BRICS' cooperation'" to building a "Five BRICS" cooperation layout of peace, innovation, green, justice and humanities, President Xi Jinping has personally worked hard to give the "Greater BRICS" a clearer development direction. Next year, China will once again serve as the rotating chairman of the BRICS. At a historical juncture where a century of changes are accelerating and global challenges are intertwined, the international community is even more looking forward to China playing a leading role in promoting the "Greater BRICS Cooperation" to a new level and injecting more certainty and positive energy into a world full of uncertainty.
The steady and long-term development of BRICS cooperation cannot be achieved without the joint participation and continued efforts of all parties. Since India assumed the rotating chairmanship of BRICS this year, it has held more than 300 events around the theme of "Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainable Development". India and China serve as the rotating chairpersons of the BRICS this year and next respectively. The two sides maintain good coordination, which is conducive to the in-depth development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation", is conducive to promoting world multipolarity and democratization of international relations, and is conducive to better safeguarding the common interests of developing countries.
Walking together on the road, we have a promising future. Standing at the starting point of the third "Golden Decade", China is willing to join hands with all parties to forge ahead, continuously create a new situation of high-quality development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation", and contribute the power of "Greater BRICS" to building a community with a shared future for mankind!
(Author: Xu Feihong, Chinese Ambassador to India)
