Addis Ababa, September 12, 2026 (FMC) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has described BRICS as the world’s most influential platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries, calling for deeper collaboration on innovation, peace, cultural exchange and global governance.
Xi made the remarks while addressing the first session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, as the grouping marks two decades of cooperation and continues to expand its membership and cooperation framework.
He said the past 20 years have demonstrated the vitality of BRICS, with member countries pursuing development paths suited to their national conditions and strengthening cooperation in response to major global challenges, including financial crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
According to Xi, BRICS has remained committed to safeguarding the common interests of the Global South while contributing stability and positive momentum to the international community.
He noted that the grouping has undergone a historic expansion, developed a comprehensive, multi-tiered cooperation framework and entered a new stage of high-quality development.
Against a backdrop of rapid global transformation, Xi said the growing strength of the Global South and the trend toward a multipolar world are accompanied by challenges including unilateralism, power politics and strains on multilateralism and the international order.
He called on BRICS countries to contribute to a more just and equitable international order and to work together toward building a community with a shared future for humanity.
On innovation, Xi urged BRICS countries to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence, promote open-source development and expand practical cooperation in new areas.
He said China has proposed an initiative to promote new industrialization through artificial intelligence among BRICS countries and expressed Beijing’s readiness to work with members on research, development and application, as well as cooperation in industrial and supply chains.
Xi also called for BRICS to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability, urging members to uphold common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, oppose bloc confrontation and contribute to resolving regional and international conflicts.
He said China would work with fellow BRICS members to contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East and Gulf region.
Highlighting the people-to-people dimension of BRICS cooperation, Xi called for stronger collaboration in culture, tourism and education, expanded youth exchanges and greater interaction among peoples.
He further urged BRICS countries to advance reform of global governance, promote greater democracy in international relations and strengthen the authority of the United Nations.
Xi called for support for a multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization and opposition to protectionist measures, while encouraging BRICS cooperation in emerging domains such as cyberspace, outer space and the deep sea.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining solidarity within the grouping, urging members to respect each other’s core concerns, seek common ground while respecting differences, deepen understanding through dialogue and properly manage differences.
China will assume the rotating BRICS chairship and host the 19th BRICS Summit in 2027, Xi announced.
He said China is ready to work with all BRICS members to build consensus and advance cooperation, describing the next phase as an opportunity to open a new “golden decade” for the grouping and contribute to shared prosperity and progress.