Africans hold high expectations for BRICS meeting

Twenty-two years ago, when British economist Jim O'Neill coined the term "BRIC", an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China, he might not have imagined the extent to which these emerging economies would reshape global governance.

With South Africa officially becoming a member in 2011, the bloc was expanded to BRICS, which now represents about a quarter of the global GDP and about 40 percent of the world population.

BRICS has grown into the most influential South-South cooperation platform and is a crucial driver for global growth, with three main pillars consolidating its mechanism — political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

When I arrived in South Africa with the task to cover the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg against the backdrop of a sluggish post-pandemic global economic recovery, I was impressed to notice that people hold high expectations for the meeting of the leaders of major emerging economies. They are hopeful that the summit will find ways to bolster the global economy.

I browsed many articles written by scholars and experts in the fields of economics and international relations, and talked at length with my interviewees to seek their comments on the role of the bloc in the current international landscape, which has become fractured due to mounting geopolitical challenges.

They told me that BRICS could collectively reshape global dynamics, and has the potential to drive significant changes in the world economy and international relations. Hopes are high that the BRICS members will use their collective voice to call for a world that is more equitable, balanced and governed by an inclusive system of global governance.

Sithembiso Nhlapho, a project manager in KwaZulu Natal, a province in South Africa, is the archetypal common man who works hard to win bread for his family. Nhlapho has no background in politics or international relations, but he hopes and believes that what happens in Johannesburg this week will ultimately have positive effects on people's livelihoods in Africa.

This year's summit focuses on "BRICS and Africa" as the host nation wants to present the bloc members and African countries with the opportunity to collaborate and contribute to economic growth, especially in the wake of the post-pandemic challenges. The goal can be achieved through promotion of trade and investment, policy coordination, technology transfers and cultural and academic exchanges.

Nhlapho gave me an example. He said that many African countries, including South Africa, are short of power supply, and they face challenges with energy generation and transition. "Through cooperation, we can learn from other BRICS members such as China and Russia who have made more progress on that front and have better technologies," he said.

However, what Nhlapho sees as a potential field for cooperation is perhaps something that Western countries do not want. A section of Western media has described the African continent as a renewed diplomatic battleground, with the West, Russia and China vying for influence amid mounting geopolitical competition and international division fostered by the Ukraine crisis.

Some Western countries are having antagonistic views about South Africa for hosting the BRICS Summit. This attitude is similar to saying "you are either with us or against us".

Nhlapho has his own views. He told me that Africans just want to be themselves. "I believe we also want to decide our own destiny and protect our sovereignty. This includes the right to befriend any country without risking our relationship with another," he said.

I am with Nhlapho on this. I believe greater economic cooperation between BRICS and African countries can contribute to a more multipolar world order, reducing the dominance of some economic powers and fostering a more balanced and inclusive global environment.

Ultimately, by pooling resources, knowledge and efforts, they can contribute to global growth, promote inclusive development and inspire a more interconnected and cooperative world economy.