BRICS Contributes to Better Global Governance From a Strategic and Historical Perspective

— 10 experts interpret Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum (Part II)

He Yafei
former Deputy Foreign Minister,
senior researcher of Chongyang Institute of Financial Studies,
Renmin University of China

Global Governance Converts From “Western Governance” to “ East and West Joint Governance”

In his speech, President Xi Jinping underlined the successes BRICS has achieved in the past ten years and strongly refuted the claim that the BRICS countries are “losing their luster”. He also depicted the prospect of a new “golden decade” and charted the course for the “BRICS Plus” mechanism which has increased the confidence of all parties in BRICS.

Xi pointed out that seen from a historical perspective, “we are in a great era of development, transformation and adjustment.” Strategist Henry Kissinger has also recognized that the international system is undergoing a great change, unprecedented in the last four hundred years, and Zbigniew Brzezinski has stated that there is “a shift in the center of global power from the Atlantic world to the Far East.”

What they are talking about is a transition from  the “American Century”to the “post American” period. During this transition,  the world economic and political structures and global governance system are undergoing fundamental changes, among which the development of BRICS and the “BRICS Plus” model are prominent examples.

Taking BRICS countries as representatives of the rising power of emerging economies and developing countries, the international economy and world political structures are experiencing great changes and there is a notable trend towards the convergence of the power of developed and developing countries. As a result, new models and methods for global governance are required, and there is a push to shift global governance from “western governance” to “joint east and west governance”.

The open and inclusive “BRICS Plus” mechanism highlights the BRICS spirit of “openness and inclusiveness” and “cooperation that benefits all”. It will therefore attract more friendly parties to joint BRICS and steadily increase its cohesion, making BRICS more robust. It will propel the world economy to develop in an inclusive and interconnected way, and help to realize innovative global governance. It will also strengthen the voice of developing countries and promote South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue, so as to introduce new ideologies and mechanisms to global governance and make it fairer, more just, and more reasonable.

Hu Biliang
director of Emerging Markets Institute,
Beijing Normal University

BRICS contributes to joint world governance

The keynote speech from President Xi was rich in content. In it he voiced a valuable and important proposal – that the five BRICS countries should combine to tackle the problems the world is facing now, and should use the wisdom and powers they have acquired through ten years of experience to make the world a better place.

As Xi explained in the speech, since the end of WW II the world has essentially developed under the governance of western countries, led by the US and Europe. Even though advances have been made in various fields, several new problems have emerged, such as terrorism, trade protectionism, and cybersecurity.

In an era of great development, transformation and adjustment, we need new powers to join in and proactively solve these problems.

After 10 years of dedicated effort, BRICS cooperation has come to fruition.BRICS nations all have their own experiences in governance, and should play an active part in global governance. The establishment and successful operation of the BRICS New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Agreement provide convincing examples.

Seen from the present situation, at least three positive experiences of BRICS cooperation could be beneficial to world governance, and should be taken into consideration:

first, the basic philosophy of BRICS; second, the promotion of inclusive cooperation among nations and regions to achieve development that benefits all, and steadily narrowing the gap of social inequality to ensure that everyone enjoys the fruits of international cooperation and development; third, taking economic cooperation as the basic principle and enhancing practical cooperation through effective implementation.

Ye Qing
director of Shanghai Institute for International Studies

Optimizing Global Governance by Learning From BRICS Experience

President Xi’s keynote speech has pointed out the direction for cooperation in the coming decade based on conclusions drawn from the past 10 years of BRICS cooperation.

BRICS cooperation has just reached a new historic turning point. The Xiamen Summit is not only vital to BRICS own development, but also crucial to future world governance and the international order.

First, 10 years of accumulated experience has advanced the influence of BRICS, making it a leading force for new rounds of globalization. The BRICS nations have taken the initiative in global governance, and this initiative is steadily expanding.

Second, the contribution of the BRICS nations to global governance has been increasing continuously. The contribution over the past ten years has been critical, and the world is now expecting a more creative contribution in the coming decade. Based on direct experience, and especially the governance philosophy that takes development as the core, the BRICS nations will lead economic globalization through innovation, and live up to its goal to ensure benefits for all.

Third, China will synchronize its development with BRICS cooperation, and is confident about it. Confronted with challenges imposed by the trend of opposition to globalization, China is now promoting the “BRICS Plus” cooperation model in an endeavor to achieve a broader consensus on global governance. Also, in the hope of establishing a community of common destiny, China has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, which is designed to replace geopolitical competition with practical cooperation. It rejects the law of the jungle and cold-war ideology of zero-sum and supports dialogue, co-construction, and shared benefits, and shares opportunities with other countries along with its own development. All these will make a further contribution to upholding world peace.

Wang Lei
director of Center for BRICS Cooperation,
Beijing Normal University

Viewing BRICS cooperation from a historical perspective

Xi noted in his speech that there are two things to bear in mind (the historical course of world evolution and the historical course of BRICS progress) when assessing the progress of BRICS cooperation, and that this cooperation should be judged in a comprehensive way that takes account of both the historical course and the strategic perspective.

In the process of forging the first “golden decade” of cooperation, the BRICS countries encountered challenges and difficulties, which led to such talks as“broken BRICS” and “fading BRICS”.

However,  the BRICS nations have not hesitated in their own development and in further strengthening their cooperation. This cooperation is in conformity with changes to the international structure and a historical trend witnessing a diffusion and transfer of world power. The difficulties they faced are only temporary in the process of development, and will not disrupt their overall development or change the direction of global political and economic reform. In addition, cooperation and friendship among BRICS nations and other developing countries are a source of energy for further development of the BRICS mechanism in the future.

By enhancing mutual trust and cooperation and tackling problems of development, the BRICS nations will not only usher in a new “golden decade” of cooperation, but also benefit other emerging markets and developing countries, and contribute to the international relations democracy, world economic globalization, and the cultural diversity.

Fang Zhenghui
Deputy director general of China International Publishing Group，CIPG

New Definition of BRICS Spirit

A careful study of President Xi Jinping’s speech has led me most impressed by three major highlights.

First, the sense of a responsible great power.

In the speech, Xi shared his insightful conclusions concerning the problems now confronting BRICS and the rest of the world. Facing these problems with the will to solve them might represent the image of a responsible country; the resolution to tackle domestic problems together with those of the BRICS nations and the wider world demonstrates a truly responsible great power. This level of concern about the wellbeing of the international community contrasts starkly with some countries that only care about their own interests.

In the speech, Xi claimed that it is the responsibility of BRICS to uphold world peace and stability. This sense of responsibility will have a strong and positive impact on BRICS future development.

Second, the global vision.

Xi pointed out that there are two vital dimensions in BRICS cooperation, and three facets of the BRICS spirit. He also raised four expectations for the coming “golden decade”. From these we can see President Xi’s broad global vision.

This kind of global vision and concern for all are the value basis of “the community with common destiny”,  advocated by Xi. They are not only vital to BRICS cooperation and development, but also inspire the ideas that provide the base for the ideology of global governance.

Third, concern for standards of living.

A strong sense of concern for standards of living can be felt in Xi’s speech, one that extends not only to the people of China, but to all peoples throughout the world.

On the occasion of a business forum, Xi addressed repeatedly those people who still struggle and live in suffering, which truly touched the audience. I sincerely believe that all the other people in the world who have listened to the speech will be as moved as I was.

Xi concluded the speech by saying “Let our cooperation deliver more benefits to the peoples of our five countries. Let the benefits of global peace and development reach all the people in the world.” President Xi Jinping always bears in mind the hope of realizing prosperity for all, and has long been dedicated to this goal.