International observers look to China to advance 'Greater BRICS' cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS countries to take the lead in advancing innovation-driven development, upholding peace and stability, facilitating mutual learning between civilizations, and reforming and improving global governance at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday.

While addressing Session I of the summit, Xi said China stands ready to work with all parties to build consensus, create a better future and embark on BRICS' third "golden decade," jointly opening up a bright future of prosperity and progress.

Observers from the Global South said that the BRICS cooperation mechanism has evolved into an influential platform for multilateral cooperation, with China playing an important role in its development. They expressed confidence that China will help steer "Greater BRICS" cooperation toward deeper and higher-quality cooperation, contributing to the interests of the Global South and to global peace and development.

"China, based on its own capabilities, has played an outstanding role in BRICS cooperation," said B.R. Deepak, director of the Centre of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India.

Against a backdrop of growing uncertainty in the international system, Deepak said China-proposed Global Governance Initiative could serve as a stabilizing force, while the Global Civilization Initiative could help bridge geographical and cultural differences.

Sarafina Christopher, a journalist of the News Agency of Nigeria, noted that China is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, saying its participation in BRICS sends a strong message about the group’s long-term sustainability.

She said China’s vast population, large consumer market and abundant resources provide a strong foundation for the continued growth and development of BRICS.

Marcos Pires, a professor of political economy at São Paulo State University in Brazil, said Xi's call for high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation is closely aligned with the four global initiatives and provides a clear direction for the group's future.

Hailing BRICS as an important platform for reforming and improving the global governance system, he said the mechanism offers hope for addressing the challenges posed by a turbulent international environment.

Amr Moussa, former secretary-general of the Arab League, said he hoped more Arab countries would join BRICS, which he believed would further strengthen regional and global cooperation.

"We are at a critical juncture in shaping a fairer and more equitable international order," Moussa said, highlighting the importance of China's vision.

He said the Global Governance Initiative, with its emphasis on cooperation and mutual benefit, reflects the aspirations of the Global South for an international system that can support development and ensure its benefits are more widely shared.

Bradley Bordiss, founder of the Friends of BRICS+ Society in South Africa, also expressed support for China's continued role in advancing BRICS cooperation. He said China is one of the world's major economies today, and its development path is completely different from that of the West.

Pointing to China-Africa cooperation, Bordiss said China does not attach political conditions to its economic cooperation or interfere in the domestic economic policies of African countries.

Expectations for China's 2027 BRICS chairmanship

China will assume the BRICS chairmanship in 2027, and observers said they expect the country to play an important role in consolidating the group’s expanded cooperation framework.

Alexander Ignatov, a senior researcher at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, described China as one of the "locomotives" of BRICS.

With global development facing mounting challenges, China's experience in responding to those challenges can offer useful lessons to other countries, he said.

Ignatov also pointed to China's previous BRICS presidencies, during which numerous outcome documents were adopted and implemented, saying China’s return to the chairmanship would therefore draw close attention.

Hani Abuagla, head of market analysis at XTB, a UAE financial institution, said China's upcoming chairmanship would come at a particularly important time as BRICS places greater emphasis on high-quality development.

"Today's BRICS includes not only major manufacturing and energy powers, but also huge consumer markets," he said, adding that the expanded grouping has significant potential to reshape the global economic landscape.

"China will continue to play a leading role in this process," he said.

For developing countries, the expansion of BRICS could also create new opportunities for greater participation in global economic cooperation.

Austin Mwange, a Zambian economist, described BRICS as a genuinely inclusive platform for multilateral dialogue.

He said Xi's call for high-quality greater BRICS cooperation could help promote innovation, facilitate trade and improve people’s livelihoods, while enabling less-developed countries to participate more fully in shared development.

Such cooperation is of particular significance to Global South countries, including those in Africa, Mwange said.