The BRICS group of major emerging economies, with its expansion earlier this year to include five new member states, is poised to play greater roles in regional socioeconomic development. With the 16th BRICS Summit kicking off in western Russia's Kazan City on Tuesday, how the group can make greater achievements in future has aroused global interest.
Recently, a container vessel carrying 1,738 Twenty-Feet Equivalent Units (TCUs) of goods set off from east China's Xiamen Haitian Port, heading for Durban in South Africa on a direct shipping route which became operational since 2014. This direct shipping route has seen the completion of a remarkable 458 voyages, facilitating trade with an import and export value totaling 29.2 billion yuan (about 4.1 billion U.S. dollars). Noteworthy for its ability to trim shipping durations by a minimum of seven days, the operation of this maritime passage stands as a quintessential example of pragmatic collaboration among the BRICS countries.
In the past 18 years of development of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, there are countless stories like this.
From Tuesday to Thursday, the 16th BRICS Summit convenes in Kazan City. Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the summit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The summit is the first to be held after the BRICS expansion in January and also marks a new start for Greater BRICS. Leaders of more than 30 countries and international organizations will come together to deliberate on cooperation and development strategies.
"Ever-growing BRICS will help correct imbalance of the world," "BRICS countries are exerting far-reaching influence on the Global Economy," "A new era of international relations is emerging"... according to reports by international media outlets.
In the current world featuring turbulence and changes, why BRICS is becoming increasingly popular and how Greater BRICS will achieve more significant accomplishments are among the topics warmly discussed by experts and scholars.
Kirill Babaev, director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences, told The Real Point that BRICS, once a coordinating tool for its members, has become a symbol of new vision for humans in future. It represents people's hope for fair development of the global economy. "China is one of the main promoters that enhance cooperation among all parties," said Babaev.
Babaev's remarks resonate with many people's thoughts. Today's world is experiencing change on a scale unseen in a century. On one hand, globalization encounters turbulences as some major powers, driven by geopolitical motives, engage in encircling and pressuring emerging markets and developing nations, fostering bloc confrontation. On the other hand, the rise of the Global South signifies an irresistible trend. In this context, as a major platform of dialogue, cooperation and common development for the Global South, the BRICS cooperation mechanism displays more obvious value to our times. The BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation has become a banner of South-South cooperation with greater appeal.
The BRICS cooperation mechanism aligns with the aspirations of many developing countries seeking common development. Currently the global economic resurgence has somewhat been lackluster, with imbalances and mounting development deficits persisting worldwide. Against such a background, the BRICS countries have been committed to the multilateral trading system, firmly safeguarding stable and smooth operation of the global industrial and supply chains, contributing to promoting the universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
With the formal inclusion of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia into BRICS in January 2024, the Greater BRICS now is home to nearly half of the world's population. It generates one fifth of global trade, with its total economic output, calculated by purchasing power parity, surpassing that of the Group of Seven (G7) countries.
Moreover, the BRICS cooperation mechanism provides a platform and opportunities for all countries to participate in global governance. Italian international issues expert Giancarlo Elia Valori pointed out that against the backdrop of resurging Cold War mentalities and unilateralism, the BRICS countries have consistently upheld the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. Their dedication to resolving international and regional issues by diplomatic means aligns with the global trend towards peace and development. In the future, with more countries applying to join BRICS, the greater BRICS's positive, stable and beneficent role will be more outstanding and the forces of safeguarding multipolarity and multilateralism will keep growing stronger.
As a founding member, China has been a firm advocate of and participant in the BRICS cooperation mechanism, playing a pivotal guiding role. From proposing the BRICS spirit to the establishment of the New Development Bank (NBD) and then to the formation of the BRICS Plus model, China has always been contributing to the BRICS mechanism.
Ronnie Lins, director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business, said China plays a critical role in consolidating BRICS countries' consensus, promoting coordination and cooperation among members and advancing shared agendas.
Egyptian economist Ahmed Mustafa said he believes the current summit will highlight the major emerging economies' pivotal role in shaping global economic and political landscape, especially the significant role of China. "This event is poised to set a precedent for future BRICS meetings," he said.
The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in July made comprehensive arrangements for further deepening reforms comprehensively and advance Chinese Modernization, which has conveyed a clear message of cooperation for mutual benefit and common development with other nations. We can expect that with efforts of China and other BRICS members, this summit will inject more stability and positive energy into this turbulent world and further promote solidarity and self-strengthening of the Global South. The Greater BRICS is definitely embracing greater prosperity.
How Greater BRICS can make greater achievements arouses global interest: commentary
How Greater BRICS can make greater achievements arouses global interest: commentary
