BRICS Summit: China and Russia forge closer global alliance
“At present, the world is going through changes unseen in a hundred years, the international situation is intertwined with chaos. But I firmly believe that the friendship between China and Russia will continue for generations, and great countries’ responsibility to their people will not change," said Chinese leader Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in Kazan.
On Tuesday in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Tatarstan, the 16th annual three-day BRICS summit began under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, who wants to prove to the world that the Kremlin is not isolated on the international stage. According to experts, this bloc is an attempt by Russia and China to create an alternative order to the West.
Xi Jinping met with Vladimir Putin, and the leaders declared that a "new era" has dawned in their countries' relations. The Russian president called the Chinese leader a "dear friend." He also stated, "Russian-Chinese cooperation in world affairs is one of the main stabilizing factors on the world stage."
He added, "We intend to further enhance coordination on all multilateral platforms in order to ensure global security and a just world order."
Xi declared that the cooperation of BRICS countries is "the most important platform for solidarity and cooperation between emerging market countries and developing countries in the world today." He also considered BRICS a force working toward the realization of an "equal and orderly" multipolar global policy and "inclusive and tolerant" globalization.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also met with Putin. He called Russia a "valuable friend" and "important ally." He also said that Moscow has supported South Africans' struggle against apartheid "from the beginning."
He added that he is "very happy" to be in Russia and to discuss "political issues, trade, climate change, peace, and security" with BRICS leaders. Putin stated that the relations between South Africa and Russia "are based on the principles of strategic global partnership, and the dialogue is developing."
They account for one-third of the world's GDP
The official goals of BRICS are to create a new monetary system and reform the UN. Before the summit in Kazan, there were reports that China wanted to present an "alternative world order" there. The bloc includes countries whose combined income exceeds one-third of the world's GDP and is home to 45% of the Earth's population. In 2020, the GDP of BRICS nations surpassed the economic growth of G7 countries.
The acronym BRIC (the S was added later) was coined by British economist Terence James O'Neill in 2001 when he published an article about the emerging economies of developing countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). Two years later, the name gained popularity due to reports suggesting that by the middle of the 21st century, these countries would be global economic powers.
In 2006, during a debate at the UN General Assembly, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, and China met, beginning a series of high-level contacts. The official establishment of the bloc is considered to be the summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in June 2009. Since then, meetings of the heads of state of BRICS have been held annually. In addition to these, regular meetings are held for the heads of various ministries of the associated countries (economy, foreign affairs, etc.).
Who wants to join
Some sources say more than 30 countries have expressed interest in joining the bloc. Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Belarus have submitted official applications. There are also countries that initially showed interest in participating in BRICS but later withdrew from the idea. These include Algeria and Kazakhstan. The president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, declared on October 16th that in the "foreseeable future," his country would not apply to join the forum.
