Pragmatic Outcomes for BRICS’s Third Decade

Source: Brasil 247 | Original Published At: 2026-09-18 07:33:02 UTC

Key Points

• The 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi confirmed the group's continued relevance after expansion and its role as an expression of the rising Global South.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed five initiatives covering artificial intelligence, trade and investment, digital industries, smart manufacturing, and scientific and technological talent training.
• The article argues that BRICS should convert its expanded membership into concrete development capacity, including cooperation among special economic zones and support for SMEs through finance, digital payments, and market access.
• The meeting between Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaled that China and India can use BRICS as a forum to build trust despite bilateral differences.
• India's 2026 and China's 2027 BRICS presidencies offer an opportunity for continuity, requiring stronger coordination and implementation of summit outcomes.
• The author advocates for a permanent administrative secretariat for BRICS and formal engagement with the International Organization for Mediation to support dispute resolution.