As the 17th BRICS Summit kicks off in Rio de Janeiro, the bloc’s expansion is making waves 🌊. With Colombia and Uzbekistan joining the New Development Bank (NDB) and Vietnam becoming a partner country, Greater BRICS is emerging as a powerhouse for the Global South. Representing nearly half the world’s population and over 50% of global growth, this alliance is rewriting the rules of international cooperation.
From Vision to Action 🚀
Chinese President Xi Jinping has championed a new era of 'high-quality development' for BRICS, calling it a 'vanguard for global governance reform.' At the summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang doubled down, urging members to boost collaboration in tech, industry, and education. China’s new BRICS research center on 'new quality productive forces' and scholarships for talent development signal a focus on future-ready growth.
Banking on Equality 💸
The NDB—dubbed the 'BRICS Bank'—is a game-changer. With $40 billion in approved projects, it’s funding infrastructure and trade initiatives while ensuring all members have equal say. 'Every voice is heard,' says NDB President Dilma Rousseff. Meanwhile, BRICS’s Rio Declaration pushes for a more inclusive global system, backed by 91% of global respondents in a CGTN poll who see the bloc as key to a multipolar world.
Culture, Peace & Progress ✌️
Beyond economics, BRICS is fostering ties through youth forums, AI hubs, and peace initiatives like China’s 'Friends of Peace' dialogue. With Brazil’s President Lula highlighting BRICS’ 4% growth rate (outpacing global averages), the message is clear: The Global South isn’t just rising—it’s leading.
