Xi Jinping attended the 18th BRICS Summit and met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

In the golden autumn season, China’s head of state diplomacy, which travels thousands of miles, begins a new round of “BRICS time”.

On September 12, President Xi Jinping attended the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting in New Delhi, India, and met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation, how does President Xi guide the course for the third "golden decade" of BRICS cooperation? Why emphasize that BRICS countries should be four "pioneers"? "Current Affairs News Eye" explains it for you.

01

In a critical year, the "Big BRIC" reunites

On the 12th, as soon as he arrived in New Delhi, India, President Xi Jinping immediately launched a busy "BRICS agenda."

During the intensive schedule of attending the first phase of the 18th BRICS Leaders' Meeting, visiting the BRICS 20th anniversary photo exhibition, jointly planting trees, and taking group photos, President Xi and BRICS leaders discussed cooperation plans and a blueprint for development.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation. Looking closely at this summit in a critical year, there are two outstanding feelings.

One is the “bigness” of BRIC.

The conference table is surrounded by large concentric circles, with the "BRICS Family" flags lined up. The simultaneous interpretation machine on the table provides multiple language translations. A "family photo" holding hands side by side freezes another historic moment of BRICS cooperation...

From the "BRIC" to the "Greater BRIC" after the historic expansion, the total population of the BRIC countries accounts for nearly half of the world, the total economic output accounts for about 30% of the world, and the contribution rate to global economic growth exceeds 50%. The "bigness" of BRIC represents a vigorously developing and powerful new force.

On the 12th, President Xi used the three keywords of "self-reliance and self-reliance", "together through thick and thin" and "fruitful results" in the first phase of the meeting to summarize the development achievements of the BRICS in the past 20 years.

President Xi pointed out that the BRICS countries have achieved historic expansion, established an all-round and multi-level cooperation structure, and entered a new stage of high-quality development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation".

The second is the “heavyness” of BRIC.

President Xi pointed out at the first stage of the meeting that over the past 20 years, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has continued to grow and develop, showing great vitality and becoming the most influential cooperation platform for emerging markets and developing countries in the world today.

This is a remarkable achievement, but also a heavy responsibility. Currently, the century-old changes in the world are accelerating, and the choices made by the BRICS countries will determine the direction of the pendulum of history.

On that day, there was a meaningful link after the first phase of the meeting: BRICS leaders used shovels to cultivate the soil and jointly planted saplings symbolizing unity and friendship.

The BRICS countries have different national conditions and endowments, but as long as they firmly believe in cooperation, treat each other as equals, and seek common ground while reserving differences, BRICS cooperation will be able to take root in fertile soil and flourish.

02

Be brave to be a pioneer and start the third "golden decade"

After two decades of ups and downs, BRICS cooperation has reached a critical point of inheriting the past and opening up the future. Entering a new stage of high-quality development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation", how should the BRICS countries show new achievements and achieve new development?

On the 12th, President Xi Jinping proposed the “China Plan” at the first phase of the meeting. In this important speech titled "Share the Responsibility of the Times and Be the Pioneer", "pioneer" is a prominent keyword.

Why be a pioneer?

President Xi once profoundly pointed out that as representatives of emerging market countries and developing countries, BRICS countries "make the right choices and take responsible actions at a critical moment in historical development, which is of vital importance to the world."

Currently, the century-old changes in the world are accelerating, unilateralism and power politics are surging countercurrent, and multilateralism and the international order are under impact.

In his speech on the 12th, President Xi 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.”

How to be a pioneer?

In 2024, President Xi proposed at the 16th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting that the BRICS should be built into a major channel for promoting unity and cooperation in the global South and a vanguard force in promoting changes in global governance.

On the 12th, President Xi further proposed that BRICS countries should be four "vanguards": pioneers in promoting innovative development, pioneers in maintaining peace and stability, pioneers in promoting mutual learning among civilizations, and pioneers in reforming and improving global governance.

The four "pioneers" outline a clear picture of the new stage of BRICS cooperation from the four dimensions of development, security, civilization, and governance. They serve as both a direction guide and an action guide.

At the first stage of the meeting, President Xi announced that China will take over the BRICS chairmanship in 2027 and host the 19th BRICS Leaders’ Meeting.

This will be the fourth time that China has served as the BRICS chair after 2011, 2017, and 2022.

From initiating the "BRICS+" cooperation model, to promoting the historic expansion of the BRICS, to proposing the high-quality development concept of "Greater BRICS Cooperation", every leap in the BRICS has been engraved with a distinct Chinese imprint, and China has always taken practical actions to consolidate the foundation of BRICS cooperation and enhance the "gold content" of the BRICS.

Regarding the upcoming "BRICS Year of China", President Xi said that China is willing to work with all parties to build consensus, create a future, open the third "golden decade" of BRICS cooperation, and create a bright future for prosperity and progress.

03

Leaders of China and India met and reached important consensus

On the afternoon of the 12th local time, President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. This is the third consecutive year that the leaders of the two countries have met, following their meetings in Kazan and Tianjin.

During the meeting, the leaders of the two countries reached an important consensus on China and India being partners.

Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-India relations, which have suffered setbacks in recent years, have achieved "re-improvement" from a "restart". What is being tested is the strategic vision and political wisdom of major power diplomacy.

At the Kazan meeting in 2024, President Xi emphasized that the essence of China-India relations is how two large neighboring developing countries with a population of more than 1.4 billion get along with each other. Development is currently the biggest "common divisor" between China and India.

During the meeting on the 12th, President Xi pointed out that China and India have different national conditions and can definitely learn from each other's strengths, support each other, achieve each other's achievements, and develop together. In the face of a chaotic international situation, China and India, as the two most populous countries in the world and important members of the Global South, shoulder important responsibilities.

President Xi made four points on promoting the stability and long-term development of China-India relations:

First, calibrate the direction with objective and rational strategic cognition. China and India are partners, not rivals, and opportunities for each other's development, not threats.

Second, achieve mutual success with the concept of win-win cooperation. Both sides should focus on development, the greatest common denominator, and strengthen friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Third, eliminate interference with the political wisdom of mutual respect and understanding. We are committed to the two-track development and mutual promotion of bilateral relations and boundary issues, and maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas.

Fourth, benefit the world through open and inclusive multilateral cooperation. We should support each other's BRICS presidencies, strengthen collaboration within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the G20, work together to respond to global challenges, and unequivocally defend international fairness and justice.

Prime Minister Modi responded positively: He is willing to be a partner rather than an opponent with China, and sees each other's development as an opportunity rather than a challenge. He said that India is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China on the basis of mutual respect and mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote greater development of bilateral relations.

It sets the course and adds impetus to the high-quality development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation", builds consensus and increases mutual trust for the stability of China-India relations. The "BRICS Time" of major power diplomacy injects valuable stability and positive energy into a world of turbulence and change.