At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India from September 12 to 13, calling on BRICS countries to take the pioneering role in promoting a more just and equitable international order and usher in a new chapter of cooperation among the Global South.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation. What began as an economic concept in a research report has grown into an important force shaping the international landscape.

With greater BRICS cooperation entering a new stage of high-quality development, Xi outlined at the summit how the grouping can play a more active role in a world marked by growing uncertainty and transformation.

Be a pioneer in the changing world

The world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century.

Even as the Global South gains strength and multipolarity becomes an irreversible trend, unilateralism and power politics are resurfacing, posing growing challenges to multilateralism and the international order.

Addressing the summit in New Delhi, Xi called on BRICS countries to "stand firmly on the right side of history, strive to be a pioneer of our times, steer the international order in a direction that is more just and equitable, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity."

"To bring stability to the world and make it a better place, BRICS countries must seize the historical initiative, rally the Global South, be an active, stabilizing and positive force in international affairs and advance the well-being of all humanity," Xi said.

As to the future development of BRICS, Xi urged the grouping to pioneer in advancing innovation-driven development, upholding peace and stability, facilitating mutual learning between civilizations and reforming and improving global governance.

The four pioneering roles align closely with the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative proposed by China, offering a clear roadmap for BRICS cooperation and a better world.

Xi's remarks reflect the four global initiatives are being translated into more concrete action through BRICS cooperation, providing a broader platform for the Global South to participate in global governance, said Joseph Kimuli, a Ugandan expert on international affairs.

Deepening practical cooperation

BRICS emerged amid the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries.

Over the past two decades, the mechanism has evolved with the times, expanding its membership and strengthening cooperation amid profound changes in the global landscape.

Today, BRICS countries span four continents and account for nearly half of the world's population, about 30% of global economic output and more than half of global economic growth, making the grouping a flagship of unity and cooperation among Global South countries.

In his address at the first session of the summit on September 12, Xi said solidarity and cooperation have always been the source of strength for the cause of BRICS throughout its 20-year journey.

He called on member countries to treat each other with candor and sincerity, seek common ground while shelving differences, respect each other's core concerns, stay committed to communication and dialogue to increase mutual understanding and properly handle disagreements.

Speaking at the second session on September 13, Xi proposed five initiatives to deepen BRICS cooperation, covering open source and inclusive artificial intelligence, trade and investment facilitation, digital industry cooperation, intelligent manufacturing cooperation and science and technology talent development.

While the "four pioneers" set out the broader direction for BRICS to contribute to global development, peace, civilization and governance, the five initiatives focus on turning that vision into concrete cooperation. They target emerging areas with direct implications for economic growth and development, offering a more practical action plan for members to work together.

For Global South countries, such cooperation is already creating new opportunities. Sizo Nkala, a researcher at the University of Johannesburg's Center for Africa-China Studies, noted that China's efforts to advance technological and industrial cooperation under the BRICS framework are opening up tangible development opportunities for countries across the Global South. German artificial intelligence expert Stefan Lubich described the new ideas and proposals put forward by Xi as a driving force for the development of emerging industries worldwide.

Toward a third golden decade

China will assume the BRICS presidency next year and host the 19th BRICS Summit, Xi announced at this year's event.

As China prepares to take up the baton, Xi said China is ready to "work with all parties to plan for the future" and "usher in the third golden decade of BRICS cooperation."

The task ahead is to turn the group's growing influence and expanded membership into more effective cooperation and tangible outcomes for the Global South.

Sergey Sanakoyev, president of the Asia-Pacific Research Center in Russia, said he expects China to work with Global South countries to turn the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation into more concrete results.