China News Service, September 13. Title: At the BRICS Summit, why did Xi Jinping emphasize "standing firmly on the right side of history"
On September 13, President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing after successfully attending the 18th BRICS Summit.
Faced with the acceleration of changes over the past century and the intertwined international situation, President Xi Jinping once again had face-to-face exchanges with leaders of the BRICS countries, which attracted the attention of the international community. The profound connotation of this trip can be observed from three dimensions.
History and present: 20 years of BRICS
In 2001, former Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill first proposed the concept of "BRIC". In 2006, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China held their first meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, kicking off cooperation.
Riding the tide of the times with the collective rise of emerging market countries and developing countries, and conforming to the historical trend of world multipolarity and democratization of international relations, the BRICS has completed the evolution from a novel economic concept to a new type of international cooperation mechanism.
Looking back on the past 20 years, President Xi Jinping summed up the past 20 years at this summit in three sentences: these were 20 years of self-reliance and self-reliance; these were 20 years of staying together through thick and thin; these were 20 years of fruitful results.
Self-reliance and self-reliance - "Adhere to independence and actively explore a development path that suits its own national conditions."
Staying together through thick and thin - "Join hands to respond to challenges such as the international financial crisis, the COVID-19 epidemic, and climate change, and firmly safeguard the common interests of the global South."
Fruitful results - "achieved historic expansion, established an all-round and multi-level cooperation structure, continuously deepened cooperation in trade, investment, finance, science and technology, etc., and entered a new stage of high-quality development of the 'Greater BRICS Cooperation'".
Looking back at the road ahead and looking ahead, we can better understand the majesty of the world's tide.
The BRICS cooperation mechanism continues to grow and flourish, reflecting the aspirations of the world's people who want to maintain peace and seek common development.
The Global South and the World: Courage to Be the Pioneer of Our Times
The 20 years that the BRICS cooperation mechanism has developed and grown are also the 20 years that the BRICS countries and the "Global South" have worked together to advance.
"The most influential cooperation platform for emerging markets and developing countries in the world today" and "the main channel to promote unity and cooperation in the 'Global South'", President Xi Jinping has positioned the BRICS cooperation mechanism in the overall pattern of unity and development in the "Global South".
Faced with the changing international situation, as the first phalanx of the "Global South", what should the BRICS countries do?
At this summit, President Xi Jinping emphasized that BRICS countries must stand firmly on the right side of history, bravely be the vanguard of the times, lead the international order to develop in a more just and reasonable direction, and work together to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
“Ensuring the equal application of international laws and international rules without double standards”, “Supporting the operation and development of the New Development Bank and promoting cooperation in the Global South”, “Promoting the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, “Accelerating the formation of a global artificial intelligence governance framework with broad consensus”… President Xi Jinping also responded to the concerns of the “Global South” countries from many aspects and put forward practical suggestions for world peace and development.
Unity and cooperation: opening the third "golden decade"
"The BRICS countries are like five fingers. When stretched out, each has its own strengths, and when clenched, it becomes a fist." In 2015, President Xi Jinping used this metaphor to describe the significance of unity and cooperation to the BRICS.
This time, President Xi Jinping once again emphasized that despite the ups and downs over the past two decades, unity and cooperation have always been the source of strength for the development of the BRICS cause.
Over the past 20 years, China has always been an important participant, builder and promoter of the BRICS.
From proposing the "four major goals" of BRICS cooperation to advocating the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, from initiating the "BRICS+" cooperation model to proposing the concept of "high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation" and the "five major BRICS" concept... President Xi Jinping has put forward a series of important propositions and initiatives to promote BRICS cooperation to achieve great development and demonstrate great achievements.
At this summit, President Xi Jinping proposed five initiatives, namely the open source artificial intelligence initiative, the trade and investment facilitation initiative, the digital industry cooperation initiative, the intelligent manufacturing cooperation initiative, and the science and technology education initiative.
At the beginning of China's "15th Five-Year Plan", President Xi Jinping emphasized that the "15th Five-Year Plan" is not only China's own development blueprint, but also a cooperation list for the world.
China will take over the chairmanship of BRICS next year and host the 19th BRICS leaders’ meeting. This will also be the fourth time that China holds the BRICS chairmanship.
Standing at a new starting point in the third "golden decade", China will continue to build consensus with all parties and create a future.
