During the second day of the BRICS 2026 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation among Global South nations. He outlined five key initiatives aimed at bolstering collaboration among emerging economies. President Xi stressed that global rules should be collaboratively shaped by all countries, advocating for the adherence to international law, sovereign equality, non-interference, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Rejecting any notion that power dictates right, he called for uniform application of rules without double standards.
The proposed initiatives are centered on artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the development of science and technology talent. These initiatives are intended to strengthen ties and foster growth among BRICS nations. One of the proposals involves creating a BRICS AI open-source community to facilitate cooperation on large language models and to construct an inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, a trade and investment facilitation initiative was proposed, which includes a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and the establishment of a BRICS Forum on Trade in Services.
In the realm of digital cooperation, China plans to develop a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, which will include digital skills training and technology exchange programs. This initiative aims to enhance digital connectivity and capabilities within the member nations. Another key area of focus is intelligent manufacturing, where China has pledged to support the development of smart factories and the standardization of processes to modernize the manufacturing sector.
The final initiative targets the cultivation of science and technology talent. It includes the creation of a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and youth exchange programs. These efforts are designed to nurture innovation and develop a skilled workforce across the BRICS countries, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet future challenges in these critical sectors.