Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi as India begins hosting the gathering amid pressing global economic concerns linked to conflicts including the US-Iran war.

His participation follows his presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek last week, where he sought to galvanise solidarity and cooperation across the Global South.

Xinhua reported that both BRICS and SCO have expanded their membership and networks of developing partners. Together, their members represent more than half of the world’s population and about 30 per cent of the global economy. This year marks the 25th founding anniversary of the SCO and the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation, milestones that highlight their growing influence.

Xi has consistently backed the expansion of both groupings, introducing initiatives such as the “BRICS Plus” cooperation approach and the concept of building an SCO community with a shared future. At the SCO summit, he called for stronger cooperation among Global South countries, declaring that the SCO “takes root in the Global South, its heart beats with the Global South, and it is an important pillar of South-South cooperation.” He also described BRICS as “standing at the forefront of the Global South.”

Xinhua noted that Xi is expected to advance proposals on Global South cooperation at the BRICS summit. He has repeatedly emphasised development and shared prosperity, stating during the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, that “The Global South emerges for development and prospers through development. We should make ourselves the main driving force for common development.”

China’s Global Development Initiative has mobilised more than $23 billion, supported over 1,800 livelihood projects, and sponsored training for more than 200,000 people over five years. Converted into Indian currency, this amounts to approximately ₹1,91,125 crores.

Xi has argued that international affairs should be discussed collectively rather than dictated by a few countries, pointing to the Global Governance Initiative as a mechanism for developing nations to coordinate positions and strengthen their influence.

The editorial highlighted the role of institutions such as the New Development Bank and the proposed SCO Development Bank, alongside Xi’s call for international cooperation on artificial intelligence. China has urged that Global South countries receive support to bridge AI and digital divides and participate more fully in emerging areas.

Beyond BRICS and SCO, Xi has promoted Global South cooperation through mechanisms including the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-ASEAN summit.

He has pledged that “No matter how the international landscape evolves, we in China will always keep the Global South in our heart, and maintain our roots in the Global South.” His presence in New Delhi is expected to reinforce these commitments and shape the summit’s agenda towards collective development and cooperation.

ANI