‘Visionary’ calls for peace, innovation, green development, justice in the interests of all, experts say

President Xi Jinping’s suggestions for the future progress of BRICS have been lauded by global experts for their focus on peace, multilateralism, and sustainable development.

In his speech delivered on Oct 23 at the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia, Xi put forward five suggestions, calling on member countries to build a BRICS that is committed to peace, innovation, green development, justice, and closer people-to-people exchanges.

He said China is willing to work with other BRICS countries to open a new horizon in the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Jeffrey Sachs, a professor of economics and director of Columbia University’s Center for Sustainable Development in the United States, said Xi’s statement gives great hope to the world.

“He makes clear that the fundamental purposes of the BRICS are peace, multilateralism, sustainable development, innovation, justice, reform of global institutions and harmonious coexistence … through deepened cultural understanding and people-to-people exchanges,” Sachs said.

BRICS will help start a new era of multipolarity and multilateralism, adhering to the purposes of the United Nations Charter and guided by China’s Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which promote mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual nonaggression, noninterference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, he added.

Jasna Plevnik, president of the think tank Geoeconomic Forum Croatia, said President Xi’s speech sheds bright new light on BRICS’ future strategic direction, featuring it as a greater, progressive, secure, and green family of developing countries.

Rasha Al Joundy, a senior researcher at the Dubai Public Policy Research Centre, said Xi presented a just and firm position amid the nonstop escalation of tensions in many parts of the world.

In his speech, Xi urged BRICS countries to strive for swift de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine and promote an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. For Middle Eastern countries, seeking an end to ongoing conflicts is pivotal, said Al Joundy.

On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China can be a trusted partner for de-escalation and settlement, she said, adding that calling for building a BRICS that is committed to peace is an important and powerful message.

Plevnik, from the Croatian think tank, said no statesman has been as preoccupied as Xi with the question of how to help people live better lives and in peace globally.

“In his speech, he asked the same of BRICS — to focus on improving the everyday lives of people through new forms of cooperation, institutions, new global and regional initiatives, and high-quality development policies,” Plevnik said.

China knows that only the rise of economic, technological, and innovative power and wealth can enable Global South countries to influence and modernize the structure of world politics, she said.

During his Kazan speeches, Xi also said that BRICS countries should be defenders of common security, pioneers of high-quality development, promoters of sustainable development, forerunners in reforming global governance, and advocates for harmonious coexistence among all civilizations.

Addressing the BRICS Plus leaders’ dialogue in Kazan on Oct 24, Xi said the collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive feature of the great transformation across the world, and the Global South countries marching together toward modernization is monumental in world history and unprecedented in human civilization.

He said that China’s modernization drive will provide development opportunities for the world, noting China’s commitment to promoting common development with countries of the Global South and supporting them in joining BRICS.

Moreover, Xi called for rallying the mighty forces of the Global South to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Karori Singh, former director and emeritus fellow of the South Asia Studies Centre at the University of Rajasthan in India, said that what Xi has called for is in the interests of all.

Xi impressed upon leaders to defend common security, pioneer high-quality development, promote green and sustainable development, reform global governance, and harmonious coexistence among all civilizations in which “righteousness” is the interest of all, Singh said.

China, thus, is well-equipped and positioned to herald BRICS’ mission and global vision for the sake of humanity and posterity. The collective West, therefore, must change its developmental approach and security perspective, which are based on militarization and domination. Thus, BRICS is an inspiration for reform in hitherto Western-dominated organizations.

He said Xi’s words imply a recognition of diversity and multilateralism in countries’ behavior while conducting their foreign policy.

Such willingness and commitment by China also imply that the country is ready to make its contribution to “ensuring common security, sustainable development and reforming global governance through bilateral and multilateral cooperation”, Singh said.

He added that Xi has also clarified that BRICS is not against any other existing organizations — such as the G7 or other West-dominated financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank — as has erroneously been perceived.

Rather, BRICS supplements the cause of other organizations and institutions “in a more egalitarian and democratic manner with a greater sense of equity and empathy toward all — whether rich or poor, strong or weak”.

During the summit, Xi called for joint efforts to build BRICS into a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations as well as a vanguard for advancing global governance reform.

Francisco Dominguez, former head of research on Latin American Studies at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom, said that the 16th BRICS Summit was a robust stride toward building global multilateral collaboration, peace, development, and prosperity, with the Global South being the main beneficiary.

Adhere Cavince, a Nairobi, Kenya-based international relations scholar, said that this year’s BRICS summit marked a major development in the pursuit of inclusive and functional multilateralism.

“The world is currently embroiled in many conflicts, and some big countries are turning (inward) and elevating ultranationalism … The Chinese leader’s call for upholding world peace through targeted reforms of global governance structures, joint promotion of green development, and cultivation of intercultural amity is quite welcome,” Cavince said.

Experts also spoke highly of the principles put forward by President Xi for resolving ongoing global conflicts.

Regarding the Ukraine crisis, “we should promote early de-escalation to pave the way for political settlement”, Xi said. Xi also called for continuing to promote a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for reviving the two-state solution.

Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, president of the Center of Pak-China Corridor of Knowledge and executive director of the Center for South Asia & International Studies in Islamabad, Pakistan, said that regarding the de-escalation of the Ukraine crisis as soon as possible, Xi’s emphasis on upholding the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party is an approach in the right direction.

He also lauded Xi’s unremitting efforts toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question, which offers hope for peace and an immediate cease-fire.

Atul Dalakoti, executive director of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said: “In his speech, President Xi Jinping welcomed new members to the BRICS family and said he hoped that all the BRICS countries can work together for peace and security.”

Xi mentioned the desire for high-quality development, which is green and sustainable and can reform the present global governance structure to create closer people-to-people ties for harmonious coexistence among civilizations, Dalakoti said.

The speech outlines the future of the BRICS as a most important initiative of the Global South and talks of a future of a multipolar world where the interests of developing nations will be protected, he said.

“As the world situation gets more complicated, what President Xi mentioned in his speech shows a way forward for the Global South to get together, to be able to achieve peace and prosperity by creating connectivity between countries, to have a shared future and intertwined interests, and set a new model of equality and coexistence for international relations.”

Yang Ran in Beijing contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at chenweihua@chinadaily.com.cn