Xi Jinping Advances Global South and AI Cooperation at BRICS Summit

What changed

President Xi Jinping attended the 18th BRICS leaders’ meeting in India on September 12–13, 2026, taking part in nearly 10 events in less than 24 hours and meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive year, according to China News, citing China’s Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the visit pursued three goals:

• Strengthening BRICS cooperation as the group enters a new phase after its expansion.
• Increasing the Global South’s influence in global governance.
• Guiding China-India relations toward a partnership.

China will host the 19th BRICS leaders’ meeting next year, its fourth chairmanship. Xi proposed an AI open-source zone, a BRICS digital-industry cloud platform and a youth science-and-technology exchange program. The report says China also called for cooperation on AI-enabled industrialization, digital industries and intelligent manufacturing.

Why it matters

The agenda points to an effort to make BRICS a more operational platform for technology, industrial cooperation and global-governance reform. Its significance will depend on whether the proposed AI and digital projects develop beyond summit commitments into usable systems with participating institutions and measurable results.

The China-India meeting is central to that effort. Wang said the two countries should become partners and described relations as moving from “restarting” to “upgrading.” A sustained improvement could strengthen BRICS cooperation, while renewed friction between its two largest members would test claims of unity and collective action.

The meeting also establishes the priorities for China’s next BRICS chairmanship: opening access to emerging technologies, increasing the Global South’s voice and advancing cooperation among developing countries.

What to watch next

The next indicators will be implementation of the AI open-source zone, digital-industry cloud platform and youth exchange program, including their timelines, participating institutions and early results.

China-India relations will be another test. If the reported shift toward partnership produces continued cooperation, trade and exchanges, it could reinforce BRICS’ broader agenda. If progress stalls, the group’s ambitions may remain more political than practical.