GUWAHATI: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, September 13, announced five initiatives to deepen cooperation among the “Greater BRICS” emerging economies, covering artificial intelligence, trade, digital technology, manufacturing and scientific talent.
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Speaking about the future of BRICS, Xi said the grouping must play a bigger role in bringing together countries of the Global South. He said BRICS nations should work together to promote stability, development and fairness in international affairs.
Xi called for stronger cooperation in politics, security, economics and finance. He also stressed the importance of multilateralism, saying all countries should have an equal voice in global affairs, regardless of their size or wealth.
The Chinese president called for reforms to the United Nations system, the World Trade Organization and international financial institutions to give developing countries greater representation.
On development, Xi said countries of the Global South should keep people at the centre of their policies and work towards the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted China’s Global Development Initiative, saying it has supported more than 2,000 projects and trained over 200,000 professionals in more than 120 countries.
Xi also called for stronger action on climate change and urged countries to fully implement the Paris Agreement. He said artificial intelligence should be developed responsibly and used to promote shared prosperity.
The five initiatives announced by China are:
1. Open Source and Inclusive AI Initiative: China will establish a BRICS AI open-source community, support cooperation on large language models and organise AI training programmes.
2. Trade and Investment Facilitation Initiative: China proposed a partnership among BRICS special economic zones to improve trade and investment cooperation. It will also host a BRICS Forum on Trade in Services next year.
3. Digital Industry Cooperation Initiative: China plans to create a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform and promote digital skills training, technology exchange and cooperation in the digital economy.
4. Intelligent Manufacturing Cooperation Initiative: China will help BRICS countries develop smart factories and common standards to modernise their manufacturing industries.
5. Science and Technology Talent Development Initiative: China proposed a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance and a youth exchange programme focused on science and technological innovation.
Xi said China’s 15th Five-Year Plan would create new opportunities for cooperation with other countries. He also pledged to continue expanding China’s opening-up policies, implementing the Global Development Initiative and promoting Belt and Road cooperation.
He called on BRICS countries to remain united and strengthen the grouping as a practical platform for development and cooperation across the Global South.