BRICS Summit Aims to Strengthen Unity

The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, is anticipated to showcase reinforced unity among emerging markets and Global South countries. Analysts predict greater support for multilateralism and global stability during this landmark event, which will take place from Tuesday to Thursday, with President Xi Jinping in attendance.

Significance of This Year’s Summit

This year’s summit holds particular significance as it is the first following BRICS’ historic expansion. Chinese officials have emphasized the importance of the Kazan summit, expressing full support for Russia’s role as the host country. Zhang Hanhui, the Chinese ambassador to Russia, stated in a recent interview that expanded BRICS cooperation would contribute significantly to improving the global governance system.

Commitment to Enhanced Cooperation

Ambassador Zhang highlighted China’s commitment to working closely with other BRICS members to develop a more comprehensive and inclusive partnership. He noted that together, they will embark on a new journey for BRICS, emphasizing the need for high-quality collaboration.

BRICS Expansion and Global Impact

With the latest expansion, BRICS now covers about 30 percent of the world’s land area. It includes 45 percent of the global population and accounts for 20 percent of international trade. Observers indicate that this development marks a new era of strengthened cooperation within BRICS. It also reflects the rise of emerging markets and developing countries, which together represent over 40 percent of the global economy.

Focus Areas for Cooperation

Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed optimism about achieving significant milestones in finance, artificial intelligence, energy, and minerals during the summit. He stated that these areas would set a positive tone for enhanced BRICS cooperation.

China’s Trade with BRICS Countries

In the first three quarters of this year, China’s trade with other BRICS nations reached 4.62 trillion yuan ($649.66 billion), marking a 5.1 percent increase year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs. This underscores the growing economic ties among BRICS members.

BRICS as a Platform for Global Governance

Ren Lin, head of the Department of Global Governance at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the BRICS cooperation mechanism serves as a key platform for China’s engagement in global governance. In recent years, China has introduced several initiatives aligned with BRICS cooperation, aiming to elevate pragmatic collaboration among member countries.

Growing Interest in BRICS Membership

Recent months have seen a surge of interest from countries like Thailand and Malaysia in joining BRICS. Jiang Tianjiao, deputy director of the Center for BRICS Studies at the Fudan Development Institute in Shanghai, commented that this trend reflects a global shift away from notions like “decoupling,” proxy wars, and protectionism.

Openness and Inclusiveness of BRICS

With its commitment to openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, BRICS is poised to gain wider recognition on the global stage, according to Jiang. The summit in Kazan is expected to reinforce these values and strengthen the bloc’s influence in international affairs.