Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced several economic and technological initiatives on Sunday during a BRICS summit in New Delhi. The proposals include the establishment of a BRICS Artificial Intelligence (AI) Open-Source Zone to facilitate cooperation on large language models and training, as well as a new BRICS Special Economic Zone partnership. Xi also announced that China will host a BRICS Service Trade Forum next year to strengthen investment ties among the member nations.
The summit took place as the bloc continues to expand its membership. The grouping, which originally consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, now includes Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, 10 partner countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East have joined the framework, which Russian and Chinese officials often refer to as "Greater BRICS."
During the closing session, President Xi emphasized the need for member nations to maintain stable industrial and supply chains and work toward an integrated market. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that solutions developed within the bloc should be accessible to the broader Global South. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the grouping as a driver for a multipolar world order and urged members to integrate their individual economic advantages.
The scale of this cooperation involves some of the world's most populous nations and growing economies, ranging from established powers like China and India to new members like Indonesia and the UAE. By proposing a dedicated AI ecosystem and a service trade forum, the member states are moving toward institutional ties that could influence global standards for emerging technology and financial services. While specific dollar figures for these new initiatives were not reported, the inclusion of major oil producers like Iran and the UAE adds energy and financial weight to the bloc's collective decisions.
For the international community, the consensus reached during the summit—including a joint declaration by members urging restraint in Middle East conflicts—establishes the grouping as a platform for regional stability. A meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi marked the highest-level contact between the two nations since the start of a recent conflict. The group's next major step involves China assuming the BRICS chair in 2027, following India's current tenure.