Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address at Session I of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, on 12 September 2026, affirming that the BRICS cooperation mechanism has become the world’s most influential platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries.
During his speech, Xi marked the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation, noting that the past two decades have seen the mechanism grow and expand, demonstrating remarkable vitality and dynamism. He said the bloc’s experience of 20 years of self‑reliance and self‑strengthening has enabled BRICS members to explore development paths suited to their national conditions, setting an example of unity among emerging markets and developing countries. He added that the group has stood together through thick and thin.
Xi highlighted the challenges the bloc has tackled, including the global financial crisis, the COVID‑19 pandemic and climate change, and praised its steadfast role in safeguarding the common interests of the Global South while providing the world with stability and positive momentum.
He described the past 20 years as fruitful, noting that BRICS has undergone historic expansion, established a comprehensive, multi‑tiered framework for cooperation, and entered a new stage of high‑quality development. Xi stressed that the world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, the Global South is growing rapidly, and the trend toward a multipolar world is unstoppable. He warned of countercurrents of unilateralism and power politics, the strain on multilateralism and the international order, and widening deficits in peace, development, security and governance.
In calling for BRICS to “stand on the right side of history,” Xi urged the group to pioneer a more just and equitable international order, build a community with a shared future for humanity, and steer global affairs toward greater justice and equity.
Xi called on BRICS to advance innovation‑driven development, emphasizing artificial intelligence. He urged the bloc to seize the initiative in AI, strengthen cooperation in the field, promote open‑source development, and push practical cooperation into new areas. China proposed an initiative to promote new industrialization through AI among BRICS countries and invited all members to actively participate in the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. Xi said China is willing to work with all parties to deliver more outcomes in research, development and application, and deepen cooperation in industrial and supply chains.
Regarding peace and stability, Xi urged BRICS to uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, oppose Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, reject violations of sovereignty and interference in internal affairs, and play a constructive role in resolving hotspot issues. He noted that the situation in the Middle East remains complex and fluid, and that the war has inflicted serious losses on people in the region. Xi laid out four propositions to safeguard and promote peace and stability in the Middle East, aimed at de‑escalation, ending hostilities and promoting peace, and urged parties to pursue a political settlement and a permanent comprehensive ceasefire. China will work with fellow BRICS members to help bring peace and tranquility to the region.
Xi also emphasized the importance of mutual learning between civilizations. He called for BRICS members to champion common human values, advocate exchanges and mutual learning, ensure the success of the BRICS forum on people‑to‑people and cultural exchanges, share governance experience, and build positive momentum for steady development of relations. He urged deeper cooperation in culture, tourism and education, strengthening youth exchanges and promoting more frequent interactions and closer bonds among peoples.
On global governance, Xi urged the bloc to keep pace with the trend toward greater democracy in international relations, promote a more just and equitable global governance system, and uphold the authority of the United Nations. He said BRICS should support a multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization and reject all forms of protectionist measures. The group should lead global governance in emerging domains such as cyberspace, outer space and the deep sea, amplifying the voice of Global South countries.
Xi concluded that over the extraordinary two‑decade journey, solidarity and cooperation have remained the driving force behind the BRICS cause. He called on members to remain sincere and candid, seek common ground while respecting differences, and respect each other’s core concerns. He urged the bloc to deepen mutual understanding through communication and dialogue, properly handle differences, and ensure that BRICS cooperation continues to move forward steadily.
China will take over the rotating chair of BRICS and host the 19th summit next year. Xi said China is ready to work with all parties to build consensus, create a better future, and embark on BRICS’ third “golden decade,” jointly opening a bright future of prosperity and progress.
At the summit, all parties praised the development achievements made by BRICS over the past 20 years, noting that the BRICS mechanism has broad representation and great potential for development. They agreed that in the face of escalating geopolitical conflicts and the rise of unilateralism, BRICS countries have a responsibility to speak up for the Global South, uphold multilateralism, support the central role of the United Nations, uphold the sovereign equality of all countries, abide by international law, oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries, support free trade, and jointly address global challenges. All parties reiterated the importance of upholding the BRICS spirit, deepening cooperation across various fields, enhancing economic resilience, promoting a more just and inclusive international order, and building a secure and prosperous multipolar world. They appreciated China’s important contribution to the development and expansion of the BRICS mechanism and supported China, as next year’s chair, in successfully hosting the 19th BRICS Summit, so as to jointly bring BRICS cooperation to a new level. The leaders also adopted a joint declaration at the summit.
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