‘Expansion of BRICS’ opens a new horizon

The grouping's evolution empowers inclusive reform of global governance in a shifting world order

Protracted and entangled geopolitical flash points are accelerating a once-in-a-century transformation of the world. The unilateralism based on the logic of strength is profoundly unsettling the landscape of major-power competition, triggering structural turbulence in the global governance system. In the face of disorder, imbalance and inefficacy, the focus of BRICS is on how its member countries can join hands with other Global South countries to help reform the global governance system.

Since its inception, the BRICS mechanism has defined its role as "rooted in the South, for the South". In 2001, Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill first coined the concept of "BRIC". In 2006, the foreign ministers of China, Russia, India and Brazil held their first meeting, marking the official birth of BRIC. In 2009, the first BRIC summit was held, signaling its formal development.

In 2011, South Africa joined, marking the first expansion. From 2023 onward, BRICS underwent a second round of expansion, growing into a "greater BRICS" with 11 member states and 10 partner countries. Some developing nations still seek to join the BRICS family, reflecting its rising appeal and influence. Through these transformations, BRICS has evolved from a group of emerging powers into a representative organization of the Global South and a key platform for South-South cooperation. In science and technology, Global South countries are also catching up. On this basis, the Global South's awareness of safeguarding its interests, elevating its global standing and enhancing its strategic autonomy continues to awaken.

Thanks to the impetus of BRICS, the Global South is undergoing a historic transformation, from playing supporting roles to taking the lead in global affairs.

China has actively promoted the establishment and development of the BRICS mechanism, regarding BRICS meetings as an important part of the global governance system. China and other BRICS countries are also striving to open up new frontiers of global governance. They are not only working on "who governs", but also making innovations and breakthroughs on "what to govern". The new round of technological and industrial revolution is profoundly reshaping the way humanity produces and lives. The development of artificial intelligence is exerting comprehensive, systematic and structural impacts on human society and modern international relations. BRICS countries can seize the new opportunities in a timely manner, integrating member states' technological, talent and resource advantages, leveraging late-mover advantages in technological innovation, and deepening the integration of production factors with new technologies. They can focus on realizing partnerships in digitization, industrialization, the energy transition and AI. To this end, BRICS countries have issued plans and initiatives such as the BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, the BRICS Digital Economy Partnership Framework and the BRICS Initiative for Cooperation on Digitalization of Manufacturing.

Following the release of these initiatives and plans, BRICS cooperation has moved from top-level design to implementation of concrete measures.

China, for example, has established the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center in Xiamen, the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center in Beijing and the China Center for Cooperation on Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries in Hangzhou. In addition, China has set up the China-BRICS Science and Innovation Incubation Park for the New Era to support the translation of scientific and technological innovations into practical outcomes. It is worth noting that, in order to build a widely accepted global framework and norms for AI governance and to continuously enhance the safety, controllability and fairness of AI technologies, China proposed the establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization at the 2025 World AI Conference, and will build an international AI application cooperation center for BRICS countries, providing intellectual and institutional support for global AI governance.

At the level of governance approaches, BRICS countries are actively building and improving various cooperation mechanisms. "How to govern" is also a key issue for BRICS in advancing and improving global governance. Under the West-dominated global governance system, domestic rules tend to replace international law; confrontation tends to replace dialogue; and global governance is likely to become Western governance. As a major BRICS country, China advocates an approach of "extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits" in managing global affairs, rejecting the hegemonic model of "one country calling the shots".

In the political and security fields, BRICS countries can align their positions on global geopolitical hotspot issues and voice BRICS' propositions on global security governance. At this year's Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security, participants said that amid the impact of unilateralism and rising global uncertainty, BRICS countries should uphold mutual respect, work together to address traditional and nontraditional security challenges, and firmly safeguard the common interests of the Global South.

In the economic, trade and financial fields, this year's BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting emphasized upholding the multilateral trading system and opposing unilateralism and protectionism, voicing a "BRICS message" for global economic and trade governance. The first BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in August discussed economic and financial cooperation on various issues, including global economic growth and development, reform of the international monetary and financial system, infrastructure investment, customs and taxation.

In short, BRICS countries are not only reshaping the global balance of power with the weight of "big markets, big resources and big factories", but also opening a new horizon for global governance with BRICS solutions.

The author is a senior research fellow at the Department for World Peace and Security Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.