The 17th BRICS summit concluded in July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, marking a significant shift in the bloc’s trajectory. The gathering produced a joint declaration titled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” It reaffirmed the group's support for multilateralism, international law, and sovereign equality.
The summit was attended by representatives from the bloc’s 11 member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. This expansion of BRICS membership reflects the group’s stated aim to increase representation from the Global South.
The declaration included 126 specific commitments. These cover governance, finance, public health, artificial intelligence, and climate change. More than 200 meetings were held during the summit, resulting in new cooperation frameworks focused on hunger eradication, emerging technologies, and climate action.
BRICS reiterated its core principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and solidarity. The group reaffirmed its commitment to a three-pillar structure: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation.
Institutional development received significant attention, as the expanded bloc seeks to strengthen internal cohesion. The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) admitted Uzbekistan and Algeria, while Morocco and Colombia expressed interest in joining. The NDB now plays a key role in financing infrastructure and development across member states and partners.
The summit addressed external economic pressures. Among these are ongoing U.S. trade tariffs and financial constraints imposed on several BRICS nations. The joint statement rejected protectionism and committed to supporting open and inclusive global trade systems.
There were notable absences. Xi Jinping, President of China, did not attend, citing scheduling issues. Chinese Premier Li Qiang led the delegation in his place. The Chinese government clarified that frequent meetings between Xi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had already taken place earlier in the year. Russian President Vladimir Putin also participated remotely, due to diplomatic constraints.
The summit’s emphasis on a multipolar world order mirrors a broader shift among emerging economies. Countries from the Global South are asserting their roles in global governance. Calls for reform of institutions like the UN Security Council and the International Monetary Fund continue to grow.
States including China, India, Brazil, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia are spearheading regional and interregional coalitions. These middle powers are pursuing flexible alignments focused on security, diplomacy, and economic cooperation.
South-South trade and investment flows are increasing. The African Continental Free Trade Area and Gulf investments into Southeast Asia are examples of cross-regional collaboration. Economic strategies are centred on export growth, technology, and industrial development.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) remains central to China’s international engagement strategy. In May 2025, the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum convened in Ningbo, China, under the theme of “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation for Building an Open, Inclusive and Interconnected World for Common Development.”
The meeting prioritised trade liberalisation, digital economy integration, and artificial intelligence cooperation. Participants were urged to strengthen the digital and green Silk Road initiatives and build local capacity in partner countries.
The BRI continues to promote large-scale connectivity and infrastructure projects. The China-Laos Railway is now operational. Other projects, including the China-Thailand and Hungary-Serbia railways, are progressing. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed line is nearing completion.
The China-Europe Railway Express now links 224 cities in 25 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. Maritime infrastructure is also expanding. Major port projects include Gwadar in Pakistan, Piraeus in Greece, and Khalifa in the UAE. New aviation agreements are enhancing air transport connectivity.
The Chinese government described the BRI as a stabilising force for development and a tool to counter global economic uncertainty. Despite withdrawals by some countries, such as Italy and Panama, the initiative remains active across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belt and Road cooperation supports multilateralism and complements the objectives of BRICS. Participants were encouraged to coordinate with other regional development plans and maintain policy communication.
At the Rio summit, BRICS nations acknowledged the BRI’s role in linking economies across the Global South. It was referenced in discussions on reducing reliance on traditional financial centres and increasing infrastructure investment outside OECD structures.
The 2025 BRICS summit reiterates the emergence of the Global South as a driver of international reform. With new institutional frameworks and expanded partnerships, the bloc aims to consolidate influence in global governance. The Belt and Road Initiative serves as a key instrument in this strategy.
HT
