Xi Calls for United Global South at BRICS Summit Session in New Delhi

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the second session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, using the platform to call for a more coordinated voice for the Global South and to unveil a set of new cooperation proposals.

In his speech, Xi said the collective rise of the Global South has made it a key driver of a multipolar world. Against a volatile international backdrop, he said BRICS members should take the historical initiative, rally developing countries and act as a stabilizing and constructive force in global affairs.

He pressed for the joint defence of international law and the basic norms governing relations between states, including sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Rules and law, he said, must apply equally to all without double standards.

Xi also urged members to champion multilateralism and uphold the authority of the United Nations, while backing reform of multilateral institutions to improve their efficiency. He called for the World Trade Organization to be reformed in the right direction and for changes to the international financial architecture that would give developing countries a greater say.

On development, he advocated a people-centred approach and renewed efforts to deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He also pointed to the need for stronger security governance against both traditional and non-traditional threats, improved global climate governance, and faster work on a consensus-based framework for artificial intelligence so that new technologies benefit shared prosperity.

Describing the expanded grouping as "greater BRICS", Xi said it must deliver greater impact and deeper practical cooperation. He called for open and mutually beneficial collaboration, stable industrial and supply chains, and more integrated markets, alongside innovation hubs, upgraded traditional industries and forward planning for future sectors.

He proposed five initiatives covering artificial intelligence, trade and investment facilitation, the digital industry, intelligent manufacturing, and science and technology talent. These include establishing a BRICS AI open source community, creating a special economic zone partnership with an intelligent portal, building a digital ecosystem cloud platform, helping members develop smart factories and standards, and setting up an engineer cultivation alliance with mutual recognition of competency standards. China also plans to host a BRICS Forum on Trade in Services next year and launch a youth exchange programme for scientific and technological innovation.

Xi noted that this year marks the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, describing it as both a domestic development blueprint and a list of cooperation opportunities for other countries. China, he said, will continue to pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up, implement the Global Development Initiative and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

The session was presided over by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among those attending were Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, representatives of BRICS partner and guest countries, and heads of international organizations including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also took part. Before the session, Xi joined other leaders for group photographs.