Xi Urges BRICS To Shape A More Just Global Order As China Takes 2027 Chair

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged BRICS countries to take a leading role in addressing global challenges, calling on the grouping to champion innovation, peace, cultural dialogue and reform of the international governance system.

Xi made the call at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, as the grouping marked 20 years since the launch of BRICS cooperation.

The Chinese president said the bloc had evolved from an emerging markets platform into a major force for cooperation among developing countries, with its growing membership and expanded areas of collaboration giving the Global South a stronger voice in international affairs.

Xi said BRICS should “stand on the right side of history” and become a pioneer in advancing innovation driven development. He particularly called for deeper cooperation in artificial intelligence and announced China’s proposal for a BRICS initiative on AI powered new industrialisation.

According to Xi, Beijing is prepared to work with other members to achieve practical results in AI research, development and application, while strengthening cooperation across industrial and supply chains.

The summit also focused on international peace and security. Xi called on BRICS members to contribute to efforts to restore peace in the Middle East, warning that the continuing conflict was causing serious humanitarian and economic losses and was against the common interests of the international community.

He further urged BRICS countries to promote exchanges among civilizations and uphold the common values of humanity, saying dialogue and mutual learning could help countries overcome differences and coexist peacefully.

On global governance, Xi called for greater democracy in international relations and a more just and equitable international system. He also stressed the need to uphold the authority of the United Nations.

Analysts said BRICS could help strengthen the representation of emerging and developing economies in global decision making without seeking to replace existing international institutions.

Xi also announced that China will assume the rotating BRICS chairmanship and host the 19th BRICS Summit in 2027.

China has previously chaired the grouping three times, hosting landmark summits in Sanya in 2011, Xiamen in 2017 and virtually in 2022. The 2017 summit in Xiamen saw Xi advance the BRICS Plus approach, which broadened cooperation with countries beyond the bloc.

With BRICS entering its third decade, analysts expect China’s next chairmanship to focus on practical economic cooperation, technological development, stronger Global South representation and efforts to make global governance more inclusive.

The transition comes as BRICS continues to expand its influence, with the grouping increasingly positioning itself as an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries.