Xi Jinping’s five-point BRICS plan puts China’s tech ambitions in spotlight

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday proposed five initiatives to deepen cooperation among BRICS countries, with majority of them focused on artificial intelligence, digital industries, intelligent manufacturing and science and technology talent, as China prepares to take over the BRICS chairship next year.

The proposals signal a strong technology and industrial cooperation push under China’s incoming BRICS presidency, with Beijing seeking to build platforms for sharing technology, developing skills, upgrading manufacturing and expanding the digital economy across the grouping. Xi’s proposals put AI and digitalisation at the centre of the bloc’s efforts to strengthen industrial and supply-chain cooperation and build a more integrated market.

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From AI to smart factories: Xi’s five initiatives

1. Open-source and inclusive AI initiative

Speaking at the second session of the 18th BRICS Summit, Xi proposed that China take the lead in establishing a BRICS AI open-source community.

The initiative will support cooperation in the development and application of large language models, while China will organise specialised AI seminars and training courses and work towards building an open AI ecosystem.

2. Trade and investment facilitation initiative

China proposed establishing a BRICS special economic zone partnership, under which countries can set up an intelligent portal, coordinate policies and create a new frontier for open development.

Xi also said China will host a BRICS Forum on Trade in Services next year to cultivate new drivers of economic and trade cooperation.

3. Digital industry cooperation initiative

China will propose the establishment of a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, Xi said.

The platform would support digital skills training, technological exchange and industrial alignment, with the broader aim of enabling development of the digital economy.

4. Smart factories initiative

China will assist fellow BRICS countries in building smart factories and developing standards and norms, Xi said.

The initiative will seek to promote manufacturing transformation and upgrading across the grouping.

5. Science and technology talent development initiative

China proposed setting up a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance for joint development of engineers and mutual recognition of competency standards.

Xi also announced that China will launch a BRICS youth exchange programme focused on scientific and technological innovation to develop high-calibre talent.

Also read: China's Xi Jinping calls for Global South to jointly defend rule of law

‘A crossroads without traffic lights’

Xi also used a analogy to make his case for stronger global rules, saying that “a world without rules is like a crossroads without traffic lights, where chaos and disorder are all but guaranteed.”

He called on Global South countries to jointly defend the rule of law in international affairs and rejected the logic that “might makes right”.

Xi said international rules must be written by all countries and applied to all without double standards. He also called for countries to uphold sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The Chinese president emphasised BRICS countries should strengthen their ties with emerging markets and other Global South nations, maintain stable industrial and supply chains and foster a large integrated market.

He also highlighted China’s 15th Five-Year Plan would be both a blueprint for its own development and a “cooperation list” for the rest of the world, adding that Beijing would continue to expand high-standard opening up and share the opportunities of China’s development with other countries.