Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, on September 13, 2026. He emphasized the need for BRICS countries to work together to promote global stability and prosperity. Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of the Global South in driving world multipolarity and called for BRICS countries to be a positive force in international affairs. He also stressed the need for a rules-based international order, where all countries are equal and have a voice.
Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of upholding the authority and role of the United Nations and supporting multilateral institutions in advancing reform and increasing efficiency. He also called for the reform of the World Trade Organization to ensure that it proceeds in the right direction. The Chinese President supported the operation and development of the New Development Bank to facilitate Global South cooperation. He also stressed the need for a people-centered development philosophy and striving to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
China has been actively promoting the Global Development Initiative, launched five years ago, which has implemented over 2,000 projects in partnership with others and provided training for more than 200,000 professionals, benefiting people in more than 120 countries. Xi Jinping also mentioned that China is opening its door ever wider to the world, having granted zero-tariff treatment for all 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China. China will continue to broaden independent and unilateral opening up and share the opportunities of China's development with other countries.
Xi Jinping highlighted the need for Global South countries to jointly advance security governance and tackle both traditional and non-traditional security threats. He also emphasized the importance of improving global climate governance and urging the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. The Chinese President called for a people-centered approach to develop AI for the positive and for good, and work faster to evolve a consensus-based global AI governance framework.
To accomplish great things and achieve major progress, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to cement the foundation of greater BRICS cooperation. He proposed five initiatives, including the open source and inclusive AI initiative, the trade and investment facilitation initiative, the digital industry cooperation initiative, the intelligent manufacturing cooperation initiative, and the science and technology talent development initiative. These initiatives aim to promote cooperation in areas such as AI, trade, investment, digital economy, and science and technology.
The five initiatives proposed by Xi Jinping include establishing a BRICS AI open source community, a BRICS special economic zone partnership, a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, and a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance. China will also launch a BRICS youth exchange program for scientific and technological innovation to cultivate more high-caliber talent. These initiatives demonstrate China's commitment to promoting cooperation and development within the BRICS framework.
Xi Jinping concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of working together to promote greater BRICS cooperation and writing a new chapter of strength through unity for the Global South. China's 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development, which was launched this year, provides a blueprint for China's development and a cooperation list for the rest of the world. China will continue to advance high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to share opportunities and prosper together with all countries.
Key points
- China proposes five initiatives to promote BRICS cooperation, including AI, trade, investment, digital economy, and science and technology.
