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Why is the attractiveness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism getting stronger and stronger

Xinhua News Agency reporter

The 15th meeting of BRICS leaders is scheduled to be held in South Africa from August 22nd to 24th. This is the first offline meeting of BRICS leaders in over three years, and BRICS leaders will discuss topics such as strengthening BRICS cooperation and expanding the BRICS cooperation mechanism.

During this conference, in addition to activities such as the BRICS Leaders Meeting and the BRICS Business Forum, South Africa also invited many leaders from African countries and "global southern" countries to attend the "BRICS Africa" conference and the "BRICS+" dialogue. At the same time, some countries in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and other regions have officially applied to join the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism, and more countries have expressed their willingness to join. The attractiveness and appeal of the BRICS cooperation mechanism are becoming stronger and stronger.

On August 17th, in Johannesburg, South Africa, workers set up banners for the BRICS Summit outside the Thornton Convention and Exhibition Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Yudong

For common development

Peace and development are the common aspirations of all humanity. The effectiveness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism is based on the noble principles of promoting world peace and development. The BRICS countries share a common vision for the future development of humanity, which is also the reason for the increasing attractiveness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism has gone through 17 years of development and achieved fruitful results: the establishment of the New Development Bank, the establishment of emergency reserve arrangements for BRICS countries, the formulation of the BRICS Food Security Cooperation Strategy, and the full maintenance of the multilateral trading system based on the World Trade Organization. Practical cooperation involves various fields such as economy and trade, finance, technology, agriculture, culture, education, health, and think tanks, making important contributions to promoting global economic recovery and solving global development problems.

According to statistics released by the UK economic research firm Oak Macro Consulting in March this year, in 2022, the BRICS countries, composed of the five major emerging economies, accounted for a greater proportion of the world economy than the Group of Seven Western countries at purchasing power parity. This reflects the changes in the world economic landscape and also reflects the achievements of the development of the BRICS countries.

Many developing countries hope to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism precisely because they have seen the vibrant development of the BRICS and hope to learn from successful experiences and ride the train of development together.

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.

Selchuk Cholakolu, director of Türkiye's Asia Pacific Research Center, pointed out that BRICS countries have solved the problems faced by many developing countries and made remarkable achievements in sustainable development and poverty eradication. Other developing countries also hope to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism and inject more impetus into their own economic development through mutual learning and cooperation.

Sebastian Schultz, a researcher at the Center for Chinese Studies at the National University of La Plata in Argentina, said that developing countries from different regions, with different histories and languages have applied to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism, which is enough to show that developing countries are optimistic about its prospects.

This is a banner of the BRICS summit filmed on August 17th in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Cheng

For the sake of fairness and justice

The BRICS cooperation mechanism is the most important channel for strategic communication among countries in the "global South". BRICS countries are committed to maintaining multilateralism, actively promoting global governance system reform, enhancing the representation and voice of emerging market countries and developing countries, and have become a positive, stable, and constructive force in international affairs.

At the 2017 Xiamen Summit, the concept of "BRICS+" cooperation emerged. Nowadays, the "BRICS+" model is constantly deepening and expanding, becoming a model for emerging market countries and developing countries to carry out South South cooperation and achieve joint self-improvement. In June 2022, during the 14th meeting of BRICS leaders, the leaders of the five BRICS countries reached an important consensus on the issue of BRICS expansion, supporting the discussion of expansion standards and procedures. The expansion of the BRICS is also an important topic of this leaders' meeting.

Many international experts believe that introducing fresh blood will bring new vitality to BRICS cooperation, enhance the representativeness and influence of BRICS countries, and be conducive to issuing a stronger "BRICS voice", maintaining international fairness and justice, practicing multilateralism, and providing more stability for a world full of uncertainty.

Venezuelan President Maduro recently stated in a media interview that the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism is an important platform for defending multilateralism, improving global governance, and enhancing the voice of developing countries. It is "the driving force behind the emerging new multipolar world.". Zimbabwean political analyst Kuzai Mutisi also believes that the BRICS countries are attractive to developing countries because they have effectively broken the unipolar system and ushered in a multipolar world.

Saudi political analyst Yusuf Amin has expressed the expectations of many developing countries that the future international order should no longer be forced to stand in line with either friends or enemies. 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.

Algerian economist Faris Masdour pointed out that some international organizations led by Western countries control developing countries through grants, loans, and other means, and the BRICS cooperation mechanism can help developing countries break free from these controls. "Under the BRICS cooperation mechanism, no country will be marginalized."

For a better future

"What kind of world to build and how to build it" is an eternal proposition of human society.

The website of the Gulf News in the United Arab Emirates recently published an article stating that global challenges are becoming increasingly acute and urgent, from global warming, food shortages, illegal immigration, and energy crises. Therefore, as one of the most important meetings of this year, the process and results of the BRICS Leaders Meeting are worth paying attention to.

Since the birth of the term "BRICS" in 2001, the BRICS countries have gone from concept to reality, and BRICS cooperation has emerged from scratch. They have embarked on a path of mutual refinement and win-win cooperation, and have effectively practiced to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. BRICS cooperation has gone beyond the old routine of political and military alliances and established a new relationship of partnership and non alignment; Beyond the old ideological line, we have embarked on a new path of mutual respect and common progress; Beyond the old concept of "you lose, I win" and "winner takes all", we have put into practice the new concept of mutual benefit and cooperation.

Currently, BRICS cooperation has entered a new stage of high-quality development. Faced with changes in the world, times, and history, China has successively proposed global development initiatives, global security initiatives, and global civilization initiatives, pointing out the direction of cooperation for jointly addressing global challenges such as food crisis, energy crisis, climate change, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts, hegemonism, and protectionism. This has also become a guide for the path of BRICS cooperation.

Kenyan international expert Kavins Adhill said that China is a partner of Africa, willing not only to share development achievements with Africa, but also to safeguard the collective interests of developing countries. The Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative all demonstrate China's desire to promote comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable development in the world.

Anna Garcia, Director of the BRICS Policy Research Center in Brazil, believes that BRICS countries have achieved increasing development in economic, technological and other fields, and have the ability to establish a new world consensus different from Western powers. The world today is facing severe challenges from various public issues such as climate change, and there is an urgent need to develop targeted public policies to take care of the most vulnerable groups. The BRICS countries will play a very important role in this regard, promoting the strengthening of South South cooperation and bringing new opportunities to developing countries.

People expect that this BRICS summit will further consolidate consensus, add momentum to BRICS cooperation, and promote the BRICS ship to sail towards a brighter and better shore.