BRICS expansion: a new starting point and new vitality

On the 24th, the special press conference of the 15th BRICS Leaders Meeting announced that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Iran, and Ethiopia were officially invited to become members of the BRICS family.

This expansion is historic, reflecting the determination of BRICS countries to unite and cooperate with developing countries, in line with the expectations of the international community, and in line with the common interests of emerging market countries and developing countries. More and more countries are eager to participate in BRICS cooperation, fully demonstrating the vitality, attractiveness, and strategic value of the BRICS cooperation mechanism in international affairs, once again confirming the principle that "the road is not alone, and we all go far".

The enthusiasm of developing countries to participate in BRICS cooperation is increasing day by day, and more and more developing countries are applying to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism, which is a recognition of the fruitful achievements of BRICS cooperation. Development is the overall key to solving all problems, and it is the common demand and common expectation of developing countries. The BRICS cooperation mechanism focuses on cooperative development, which is the key to attraction. The BRICS countries have always regarded common development as a key focus of cooperation, working together to promote the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and enhance the well-being of the five countries and their peoples. After 17 years of development, the foundation of BRICS cooperation has become increasingly solid, and the fields have gradually expanded, achieving fruitful results in trade and investment, energy and resources, currency and finance, and other fields. In recent years, BRICS countries have continuously strengthened their extensive cooperation in supply chain, logistics chain, agriculture and food security, local currency settlement and cross-border payments, vaccine research and development, and public health. Mukhtar Gobashi, Vice Chairman of the Egyptian Center for Arab Political and Strategic Studies, believes that an increasing number of countries hope to join the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism, indicating that it is an attractive mechanism with significant influence in the world economy. Joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism will enhance investment and trade exchanges among member countries, which will help promote economic growth.

More and more countries are participating in BRICS cooperation, reflecting the pursuit of international fairness and justice by developing countries. The BRICS countries have always upheld international fairness and justice, presided over justice on major international and regional issues, and enhanced the voice and influence of emerging market countries and developing countries. The BRICS countries have always been advocates and practitioners of independent foreign policies, insisting on starting from the right and wrong of the matter itself on major international issues, speaking impartially and handling matters in a fair manner, not trading with principles, not succumbing to external pressure, and not being subservient to other countries. More and more countries are yearning for and joining the BRICS, firmly defending their legitimate interests and international fairness and justice, reflecting the popular will and trend of the international community. As Saudi political analyst Yusuf Amin has pointed out, many developing countries expect that the future international order should no longer be forced to stand in line with either a friend or an enemy. For many countries like Saudi Arabia that hope to increase their voice in the formation of this new order, joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important opportunity to achieve this vision.

The continuous growth of the BRICS family is bound to strengthen the voice of developing countries, promote the profound evolution of the world pattern, and inject more certainty, stability, and positive energy into the world. The BRICS countries are an important force in shaping the international landscape, and the collective rise of emerging market countries and developing countries represented by the BRICS countries is fundamentally changing the world map. Emerging market countries and developing countries have contributed up to 80% of world economic growth in the past 20 years, and the global share of GDP has increased from 24% to over 40% in the past 40 years. Enhancing the representation and voice of countries from the "global South" in global governance is a common expectation of developing countries and an inevitable direction for the development of the times. The sustained growth of the BRICS cooperation mechanism will help consolidate the trend of developing countries uniting and strengthening themselves, and promote the common governance of global affairs and the sharing of development achievements by all countries. International rules should be written and upheld jointly by all in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It is not allowed that anyone with thick arms and loud voice will have the the final say; We must practice true multilateralism, maintain the international system with the United Nations at its core, support and strengthen the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and oppose the formation of "small circles" and "small groups". The voices of these developing countries will be even louder.

This expansion is a new starting point for BRICS cooperation. Adhering to the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation in the BRICS community, encouraging more countries to join the BRICS community, gathering wisdom and strength, will inevitably make the BRICS more mature and influential, better benefit people of all countries, and promote global governance towards a more just and reasonable direction, making greater contributions to promoting world peace and development. BRICS cooperation has great potential, and the future of BRICS countries is promising.