The First “Cooperation Agenda” After the Expansion of the BRICS Countries: How China Is Creating Opportunities for the Global South
Hello everyone, I’m your financial journalist. Today, we’re talking about a significant event that took place on September 13th in New Delhi: the 18th BRICS Summit.
If you follow the news regularly, you might know that the BRICS originally referred to five countries: China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa. But now, the group has expanded to become the “Big BRICS.” At this summit, Chinese leaders not only delivered important speeches but also presented a very detailed “cooperation agenda.”
For us ordinary people, this is more than just political diplomacy between nations; it reflects the major trends in global trade, technology, and even our daily consumption and employment in the coming years.
Let me break down this news into five key points to explain what was discussed and what it means for China and the world:
I. Core Summary: From “Banding Together for Mutual Support” to “Working Together for Economic Growth”
In one sentence: Faced with the current chaotic world situation (geopolitical conflicts, economic fluctuations), the BRICS countries are no longer just making empty promises; they are taking concrete steps to cooperate. China has proposed a series of initiatives focusing on three high-tech areas: artificial intelligence (AI), the digital industry, and intelligent manufacturing, with the goal of turning the BRICS into a huge, interconnected “supermarket” that can help developing countries (the global south) grow together.
Key Points:
1. Background: The world is becoming more turbulent, but developing countries (the global south) are gaining strength and need to unite.
2. Goal: To uphold fair international rules and oppose “double standards.”
3. Actions: Five specific initiatives were proposed, covering AI, trade, digital technologies, manufacturing, and talent development.
4. Attitude: China is presenting its own 14th Five-Year Plan (its development plan for the next five years) as a “cooperation agenda” for the world, meaning: “I’m developing, and I welcome everyone to join in and share the benefits.”
II. Why the Emphasis on the “Global South” Now?
The news repeatedly mentions the “global south” and “multipolarity.” These terms may sound academic, but they mean quite simply:
Plain Language: In the past, the world was dominated by the United States and Europe (Western developed countries), which set the rules. But now, countries like China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia have become economically powerful and have more say. Together, they form the “global south.”
Why the emphasis? The international situation is complex, with some countries forming exclusive groups, imposing sanctions, and implementing technology embargos, which are unfair to developing countries. For example, if you want to buy chips, they might refuse to sell; if you want to use the US dollar for transactions, your assets could be frozen at any time.
So, by emphasizing the need to “defend international law” and oppose “double standards,” the BRICS are saying: “We want to establish fairer rules of the game.” This means that no one should be bullied, and the rules should apply equally to everyone. For us, this could lead to a more stable international environment as a new force emerges to balance power.
III. The Five Initiatives: What Exactly Are They About?
This is the most substantial part of the news. China has proposed five initiatives:
1. AI Open Source and Inclusivity Initiative
- News Statement: Establish an AI open-source community, support the development of large language models, and provide training.
- Plain Language: AI is very popular, but advanced AI technologies are mostly controlled by a few US companies and are expensive and closed. China is proposing an open-source platform where everyone can share code and models.
- Significance: This means that small and medium-sized enterprises in BRICS countries can use advanced AI tools without spending a lot of money, allowing programmers in Africa and Southeast Asia to access top-tier AI technologies and promote local innovation.
2. Trade and Investment Facilitation Initiative
- News Statement: Create special economic zones, set up intelligent portals, and host service trade forums.
- Plain Language: Doing business can be cumbersome due to many procedures, language barriers, and unclear policies. China is proposing an intelligent portal to streamline these processes.
- Significance: For example, a Brazilian coffee merchant selling coffee to an Indian factory would previously have to go through numerous procedures. With this mechanism, the process is simplified, reducing costs for businesses and potentially making imported goods cheaper and more accessible to consumers.
3. Digital Industry Cooperation Initiative
- News Statement: Build a digital industry cloud platform and provide skills training and technical exchanges.
- Plain Language: The digital economy is the future. China is proposing a cloud platform for sharing digital technologies and data resources, as well as training people on how to use them.
- Significance: Many developing countries lack digital skills. This initiative acts like an “online university” and a “technology exchange” to help improve the digital capabilities of BRICS countries.
4. Intelligent Manufacturing Cooperation Initiative
- News Statement: Assist in building smart factories and establishing standardization systems.
- Plain Language: Factories need to modernize using robots and automation. China is willing to help BRICS countries build smart factories and unify standards.
- Significance: Different countries have different factory standards, making it difficult to share parts. Unified standards will make supply chains more efficient. For example, Chinese-made car parts can be used directly in Brazilian assembly lines without re-designing.
5. Science and Technology Talent Development Initiative
- News Statement: Establish an engineer training alliance and promote youth innovation exchanges.
- Plain Language: No matter how advanced the technology, it’s useless if no one knows how to use it. China is proposing an alliance to recognize qualifications and promote exchanges among young professionals.
- Significance: This addresses the issue of talent mobility. Previously, an Indian engineer might face many certification barriers when working in China. With this mutual recognition, talent can flow more freely, promoting knowledge sharing.
IV. Why Is China’s 14th Five-Year Plan a “Cooperation Agenda”?
A key statement in the news is: “The 14th Five-Year Plan is both China’s own development blueprint and a cooperation agenda for the world.”
Plain Language: China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) has not been officially released, but its direction is clear: high-quality development and greater openness.
Why is this important? In the past, China’s development was seen as self-centered. But now, China realizes that its growth is inseparable from the world, and the world’s growth is also dependent on China.
- For China: It needs larger markets, more technical cooperation, and more stable supply chains.
- For the world: China’s development will create significant demand, investment, and technology transfer.
By sharing its plan, China is saying: “Here’s what I plan to do in the next five years; there are many opportunities, and I welcome everyone to participate.” This shows a proactive and open attitude, no longer waiting for others to ask for cooperation but offering opportunities.
V. What Does This Mean for Us Ordinary People?
You might think these global events are far from your daily life, but they are quietly changing it:
1. Diverse Employment Opportunities: With BRICS cooperation in AI, digital, and manufacturing, there will be more cross-border projects. If you work in IT, engineering, trade, logistics, or similar fields, you may have more opportunities to work or collaborate in countries like India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. Talent recognition will also make your skills more internationally recognized.
2. Richer and Cheaper Consumer Choices: Simplified trade procedures will lead to lower tariffs and more diverse, affordable products from countries like Brazil, India, and Indonesia.
3. More Access to Technological Benefits: Open-source AI and digital cooperation will make advanced AI applications more accessible in developing countries, potentially benefiting users worldwide. The technology in your phones and software may become smarter and cheaper due to BRICS cooperation.
4. A More Stable International Environment: Although the world still has conflicts, the BRICS, as a powerful economic and political group, can act as a stabilizer, reducing the risk of the world being controlled by a few countries and adding predictability to the international situation.
VI. Conclusion and Outlook
The New Delhi Summit marks a shift from mere political discussions to substantial industrial cooperation among the BRICS countries:
- Previously: They would sit together and issue statements.
- Now: They are building factories, developing AI, setting standards, and training people.
The core logic is: China uses its industrial and technological advantages to help BRICS countries (the global south) improve their industrial and digital capabilities. In return, BRICS countries provide China with larger markets, richer resources, and a more stable geopolitical environment.
The Implication for Us: The world is moving from a “unipolar” to a “multipolar” system, from a closed to an open one. In this context, it’s more important than ever to embrace change, improve your skills, and pay attention to the global market. The future opportunities are not only in China but also in the vast lands of the “global south.”
In summary, this is an agenda full of opportunities. Understanding it means understanding the general direction of the global economy in the next five years.