During the second day of the BRICS 2026 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation among Global South nations, unveiling five strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering ties among emerging economies. Xi stressed the importance of inclusive global governance, advocating for rules shaped by all nations, and urged BRICS members to adhere to principles such as international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and peaceful dispute resolution. He firmly rejected the notion of “might makes right” and called for the equal application of rules without double standards.
The proposed initiatives by China center on key areas including artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the cultivation of science and technology talent. One of the main proposals is the establishment of a BRICS AI open-source community, designed to foster collaboration on large language models and create a more inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, China suggested a trade and investment facilitation initiative, which encompasses a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and a newly proposed BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
In the realm of digital cooperation, China introduced plans for a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, which would include digital skills training and technology exchanges. This initiative aims to bolster digital infrastructure and capabilities among member countries. Furthermore, the intelligent manufacturing proposal focuses on supporting the development of smart factories and establishing common standards to modernize manufacturing processes across the BRICS nations.
The final initiative highlights the importance of developing science and technology talent. To this end, China proposed the creation of a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and youth exchange programs. These initiatives are intended to promote innovation and nurture skilled professionals who can contribute to the growth and advancement of technological capabilities within the BRICS countries.