Moment of opportunity

The leaders of BRICS member countries convened virtually on Sept 8, demonstrating the spirit of unity and cooperation. They unanimously opposed trade protectionism, reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and expressed their firm support for the global trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. At a time when unilateralism is rising, the timely convening of this summit carries significant positive meaning.

In his address, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward three proposals for BRICS development and elaborated on the Global Governance Initiative. The initiative outlines the direction and pathway for improving global governance, offering a new vision for fostering a more just and equitable global governance system. It also resonates with the governance aspirations of the Global South. As a leading bloc of the Global South, BRICS can uphold the spirit of the initiative and position itself as a positive force in global governance.

The "BRICS+" bloc is growing its influence through a new cooperation model. The "BRICS+" concept, proposed by China, has gained broad backing and is now a cornerstone of the bloc's institutional development. In recent years, BRICS has significantly increased its appeal, generating considerable interest among Global South nations that seek closer cooperation. In response to this growing demand, the "BRICS+partner country" framework — an extension of the "BRICS+" vision — has successfully mitigated disagreements regarding expansion. This approach minimizes the procedural burden associated with repeated expansions while accommodating the aspirations of numerous candidate countries. The first group of BRICS partner countries was formally admitted following the 2024 Kazan Summit.

The "BRICS+"framework has evolved beyond the "BRICS+partner country "model to embrace a broader vision — "BRICS+regional integration organizations". The BRICS leaders have collectively emphasized the need to enhance comprehensive cooperation with regional integration organizations, especially those in Africa.This shift marks a strategic evolution from engagement with individual nations to partnership with regional blocs.Going forward, initiatives such as "BRICS+Southern Common Market", "BRICS+African Union", and "BRICS+Association of Southeast Asian Nations" are set to become central elements of the greater BRICS cooperation agenda. This structural innovation not only deepens collaboration among BRICS members but also broadens the representation of greater BRICS beyond emerging economies to encompass the entire Global South — promising an exponential growth of the bloc's global influence.

Confronted with growing pressure from the United States tariffs, BRICS members have turned challenges into opportunities, overcoming their differences to accelerate the establishment of a more open and efficient trading system among themselves and throughout the Global South. These trade barriers have highlighted the need for BRICS to enhance internal cohesion and forge deeper ties with other Global South nations, upholding the central role of the WTO while addressing measures that contravene its rules.

In response to growing uncertainties in global trade, India is reshaping its trade strategy by seeking reliable partners worldwide — with a clear emphasis on deepening ties with BRICS members and associated nations. Similarly, Brazil, as this year's BRICS chair, is actively expanding its trade with other member countries, partner nations and the broader Global South to counter the trade constraints imposed by US tariffs. Meanwhile, Indonesia, which recently joined BRICS as a full member, has urged publicly to enhance cooperation within the bloc to collectively resist US protectionist policies.

The US' retreat from the "liberal world order" is accelerating, which in turn is driving BRICS nations to push for a just and equitable international system. The BRICS mechanism was founded with two core purposes: to bolster economic ties among its members and to promote a more just and equitable international order by advancing a structured, multipolar world.

This creates a critical opportunity for BRICS to champion multilateralism with the UN at its core, built on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

At a time when many international institutions are eroding or losing relevance, BRICS can intensify its efforts to help reform organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization.The aim is to realign institutional power structures with the growing economic and political weight of BRICS and the broader Global South, thereby accelerating the shaping of a more just and equitable global order.

In essence, at a time when the global governance architecture is facing systemic strain, placing the postwar international order at a critical juncture, BRICS leaders have promptly convened an extraordinary online summit, capitalizing on a strategic opening to deepen cooperation. Moving with the momentum, BRICS can steer global governance toward one rooted in inclusive consultation, collective action, and shared benefits.Alongside its Global South partners, the expanded BRICS bloc can assume a more proper role in reforming and strengthening the UN-led global governance system — ushering in a more equitable and representative order.

The author is a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.