The 2026 BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi from Saturday to Sunday, brought together leaders of major emerging economies to promote inclusive global governance, strengthen multilateralism, and foster sustainable global economic growth. The gathering underscored the growing influence of the bloc and the resonance of China's development philosophy across the Global South.
Addressing the Session I of the 18th BRICS Summit on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation. He described it as 20 years of self-reliance and self-strengthening, during which BRICS countries have actively explored development paths suited to their own national conditions, setting an example of self-strengthening through unity among emerging markets and developing countries.
On the sidelines of the summit, the People's Daily released a video titled "Through Xi's Eyes: Finding the answer to the 'warmth of BRICS,'" featuring the warmth of multilateral cooperation and how China's development philosophy resonates across the Global South. The video highlights personal reflections from key figures, illustrating the practical impact of BRICS cooperation.
In the video, Busi Mabuza, South African chairperson of the BRICS Business Council, emphasized that emerging nations share a common bond: "Because most of the Global South countries are recently emerging from developing nation status, they understand the importance of not leaving anybody behind." She added that BRICS "has opened up relationships in markets that are not just large, but that believe in multilateralism, that believe in supporting BRICS partners through sharing of technology, through sharing of skills."
R. Deepak, professor of Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who brought stacks of President Xi's works back from China, observed that Xi's early years laid the foundation for his people-centered approach and poverty alleviation strategies. Such grassroots governance, Deepak noted, deeply resonates with nations of the Global South that share similar developmental journeys and strive to build a better life for their people.
As the video reflects, for people across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, development is not an abstract concept but concrete improvements, from a paved road to a new job. As nations come together for this common goal, the paths to development and modernization open up to more possibilities.
The summit's outcomes and the video's release underscore the significance of BRICS as a platform for amplifying the voices of the Global South. With China's experience in poverty alleviation and people-centered governance serving as a model, the bloc's emphasis on multilateralism and shared prosperity could reshape global economic and political dynamics, offering alternative pathways to development that prioritize inclusivity and cooperation over unilateralism.
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