During the second day of the BRICS 2026 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of bolstering cooperation among Global South nations. He introduced five key initiatives aimed at enhancing collaboration among emerging economies. Xi underscored the need for global rules to be shaped inclusively by all nations and advocated for BRICS members to champion international law, uphold sovereign equality, and commit to non-interference and the peaceful resolution of disputes. He criticized the “might makes right” approach, urging for the equal application of rules without double standards.
The proposed initiatives cover various sectors, including artificial intelligence, trade and investment, the digital economy, intelligent manufacturing, and the development of science and technology talent. China suggested the establishment of a BRICS AI open-source community to foster collaboration on large language models and create an inclusive AI ecosystem. Additionally, a trade and investment facilitation initiative was proposed, featuring a partnership for BRICS special economic zones and a new forum dedicated to trade in services.
In the realm of digital cooperation, plans were outlined for creating a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, which would be accompanied by digital skills training and technology exchanges. The intelligent manufacturing initiative aims to support the development of smart factories and establish common standards to modernize the manufacturing sector.
The fifth initiative focuses on cultivating science and technology talent. This includes the formation of a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and the implementation of youth exchange programs designed to promote innovation and nurture skilled professionals.