Leaders
from the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South
Africa – met from 25-27 July for the group’s tenth annual summit, in
which they pledged to enhance cooperation across a range of policy
areas. The bloc issued the Johannesburg Declaration
at the end of the meeting, a 102-point document that emphasised a
commitment to multilateralism and the WTO, as well as in supporting an
inclusive, sustainable development model.
from the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South
Africa – met from 25-27 July for the group’s tenth annual summit, in
which they pledged to enhance cooperation across a range of policy
areas. The bloc issued the Johannesburg Declaration
at the end of the meeting, a 102-point document that emphasised a
commitment to multilateralism and the WTO, as well as in supporting an
inclusive, sustainable development model.
The group of leading emerging economies
organised in 2006 and held its first summit in Russia in 2009. South
Africa, which chairs the coalition this year, has hosted the summit
previously and has been a member of the bloc since late 2010.
organised in 2006 and held its first summit in Russia in 2009. South
Africa, which chairs the coalition this year, has hosted the summit
previously and has been a member of the bloc since late 2010.
The goal of the group is to enhance
cooperation among its members to advance shared goals, which they name
as mutually beneficial development built around economic and security
pillars, as well as people-to-people exchanges between them.
cooperation among its members to advance shared goals, which they name
as mutually beneficial development built around economic and security
pillars, as well as people-to-people exchanges between them.
The theme of this year’s summit was “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
The 4th Industrial Revolution
is a term coined by Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum,
in 2016. It is meant to capture emerging technological breakthroughs
across physical, digital, and biological disciplines, for instance with
robotics and biotechnology.
is a term coined by Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum,
in 2016. It is meant to capture emerging technological breakthroughs
across physical, digital, and biological disciplines, for instance with
robotics and biotechnology.
Through a new BRICS Partnership on New
Industrial Revolution (PartNIR), the BRICS countries aim to deepen
cooperation “in digitalisation, industrialisation, innovation,
inclusiveness and investment, to maximise the opportunities and address
the challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
Industrial Revolution (PartNIR), the BRICS countries aim to deepen
cooperation “in digitalisation, industrialisation, innovation,
inclusiveness and investment, to maximise the opportunities and address
the challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
The summit declaration lists the creation of a
network of science parks and technology business incubators, as well as
support for technology-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises as
positive steps in this direction.
network of science parks and technology business incubators, as well as
support for technology-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises as
positive steps in this direction.
Additional new avenues for BRICS cooperation under South Africa’s leadership include
a Working Group on Peacekeeping; a Vaccine Research Centre focused on
collaborative research and development and vaccine innovation; a BRICS
Gender and Women’s Forum as a dedicated track for gender and women’s
issues; and BRICS Tourism Track of Cooperation.
a Working Group on Peacekeeping; a Vaccine Research Centre focused on
collaborative research and development and vaccine innovation; a BRICS
Gender and Women’s Forum as a dedicated track for gender and women’s
issues; and BRICS Tourism Track of Cooperation.
Throughout the joint declaration, BRICS
leaders reaffirmed their commitment to institutions of global
governance, while also calling for reforms that would, among other
changes, acknowledge and incorporate a greater role for emerging and
developing countries; and “a more fair, just, and representative
multipolar international order.”
leaders reaffirmed their commitment to institutions of global
governance, while also calling for reforms that would, among other
changes, acknowledge and incorporate a greater role for emerging and
developing countries; and “a more fair, just, and representative
multipolar international order.”
For instance, the declaration affirmed the
importance of an “international system based on international law, with
the UN Charter as its fundamental cornerstone.” However, the document
also asserted a “need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including
its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative,
effective, and efficient, and to increase the representation of the
developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global
challenges.”
importance of an “international system based on international law, with
the UN Charter as its fundamental cornerstone.” However, the document
also asserted a “need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including
its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative,
effective, and efficient, and to increase the representation of the
developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global
challenges.”
The group also reaffirmed its commitment to
the “rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open, and inclusive
multilateral trading system” of the WTO, and pledged to make efforts to
strengthen the multilateral trading system in the face of “unprecedented
challenges.”
the “rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open, and inclusive
multilateral trading system” of the WTO, and pledged to make efforts to
strengthen the multilateral trading system in the face of “unprecedented
challenges.”
The declaration stressed BRICS leaders’
concern over the WTO dispute settlement system and the “impasse in the
selection process for new Appellate Body members.” There are currently
three vacancies on the seven-member global trade court, and a fourth
seat will open up at the end of September if the impasse is not
resolved. The US has blocked the start of selection processes to fill
those seats. Should members not reach a solution by the end of
September, that would leave the court at only three judges, the very
minimum it needs to function given that three Appellate Body members
must sign off on any ruling.
concern over the WTO dispute settlement system and the “impasse in the
selection process for new Appellate Body members.” There are currently
three vacancies on the seven-member global trade court, and a fourth
seat will open up at the end of September if the impasse is not
resolved. The US has blocked the start of selection processes to fill
those seats. Should members not reach a solution by the end of
September, that would leave the court at only three judges, the very
minimum it needs to function given that three Appellate Body members
must sign off on any ruling.
The BRICS declaration thus urged all WTO
members “to engage constructively to address this challenge” and
continue to develop the multilateral trading system in the interests of
all members, and in particular developing country members.
members “to engage constructively to address this challenge” and
continue to develop the multilateral trading system in the interests of
all members, and in particular developing country members.
The BRICS leaders also called on developed
and emerging economies to continue to engage on global economic
cooperation through venues like the Group of 20 (G20), the Financial
Stability Board (FSB), and other global forums.
and emerging economies to continue to engage on global economic
cooperation through venues like the Group of 20 (G20), the Financial
Stability Board (FSB), and other global forums.
Speaking at a BRICS Business Forum in parallel with the summit, Xi noted
that the coming years would “see a profound reshaping of the global
governance system,” and called upon his fellow BRICS leaders to “firmly
promote an open world economy, be resolute in rejecting unilateralism
and protectionism, and promote trade and investment liberalisation and
facilitation.”
that the coming years would “see a profound reshaping of the global
governance system,” and called upon his fellow BRICS leaders to “firmly
promote an open world economy, be resolute in rejecting unilateralism
and protectionism, and promote trade and investment liberalisation and
facilitation.”
“The international community has reached a
new crossroads; and we are facing a choice between cooperation and
confrontation, between opening-up and a close-door policy, and between
mutual benefit and a beggar-thy-neighbour approach” he warned, noting
that the evolution of the international order will have implications far
beyond major players, extending to middle and low-income economies as
well.
new crossroads; and we are facing a choice between cooperation and
confrontation, between opening-up and a close-door policy, and between
mutual benefit and a beggar-thy-neighbour approach” he warned, noting
that the evolution of the international order will have implications far
beyond major players, extending to middle and low-income economies as
well.
The BRICS leaders affirmed their support for
the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting the potential
for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a
means of delivering inclusive, sustainable development. They also called
for developed countries to meet their foreign aid commitments and
provide further support to developing country partners.
the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting the potential
for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a
means of delivering inclusive, sustainable development. They also called
for developed countries to meet their foreign aid commitments and
provide further support to developing country partners.
Similarly, the group affirmed its commitment
to the implementation of the UN’s Paris Agreement on climate change and
to related processes under the UN climate talks, while urging developed
countries “to provide financial, technological, and capacity-building
support to developing countries to enhance their capability in
mitigation and adaptation.”
to the implementation of the UN’s Paris Agreement on climate change and
to related processes under the UN climate talks, while urging developed
countries “to provide financial, technological, and capacity-building
support to developing countries to enhance their capability in
mitigation and adaptation.”
In the energy and energy efficiency fields,
the countries called for greater intra-BRICS cooperation to speed up the
transition to environmentally sustainable energy systems. They noted
that BRICS energy ministers have set up a BRICS Energy Research
Cooperation Platform to help advance this goal.
the countries called for greater intra-BRICS cooperation to speed up the
transition to environmentally sustainable energy systems. They noted
that BRICS energy ministers have set up a BRICS Energy Research
Cooperation Platform to help advance this goal.
The group also seeks to build on and enhance
progress from the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, which was
initiated two years ago. In particular, they aim to bolster intra-BRICS
collaboration and improve research on climate-related resilience of
current farm and food systems.
progress from the BRICS Agricultural Research Platform, which was
initiated two years ago. In particular, they aim to bolster intra-BRICS
collaboration and improve research on climate-related resilience of
current farm and food systems.
Other sustainability topics addressed in the
declaration included water resources management, biodiversity
conservation, and the “Oceans Economy,” with the countries pledging
enhanced cooperation on each.
declaration included water resources management, biodiversity
conservation, and the “Oceans Economy,” with the countries pledging
enhanced cooperation on each.
In the days ahead of the BRICS summit, Xi and
Modi both visited several African nations, seeking to strengthen
political and economic ties.
Modi both visited several African nations, seeking to strengthen
political and economic ties.
Xi visited Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal
before arriving in South Africa, pledging financial support, especially
for infrastructure projects linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
(See Bridges Africa, 5 July 2018)
before arriving in South Africa, pledging financial support, especially
for infrastructure projects linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
(See Bridges Africa, 5 July 2018)
In Rwanda, Xi called for increased investment
from Chinese companies in central and eastern Africa. He signed over a
dozen bilateral agreements and loans with the country, including US$126
million in loans for two road projects, according to figures cited by
the South China Morning Post. China has also invested in highway
projects in Senegal recently, and on his visit, Xi pledged additional
support in the areas of peacekeeping, anti-terror efforts, and general
development.
from Chinese companies in central and eastern Africa. He signed over a
dozen bilateral agreements and loans with the country, including US$126
million in loans for two road projects, according to figures cited by
the South China Morning Post. China has also invested in highway
projects in Senegal recently, and on his visit, Xi pledged additional
support in the areas of peacekeeping, anti-terror efforts, and general
development.
Mauritius is in the process of negotiating a
free trade agreement (FTA) with China, which would make it the first
African nation to do so. In South Africa, Xi pledged US$14.7 billion of
investment and promised to increase Chinese imports from the country.
free trade agreement (FTA) with China, which would make it the first
African nation to do so. In South Africa, Xi pledged US$14.7 billion of
investment and promised to increase Chinese imports from the country.
Modi visited Rwanda and Uganda prior to the
BRICS summit, pledging a US$200 million loan for infrastructure projects
in Rwanda, according to reporting by The East African. India also plans
to open 18 new embassies across Africa, bringing its total number on
the continent to 47, further signalling enhanced commitment to the
region.
BRICS summit, pledging a US$200 million loan for infrastructure projects
in Rwanda, according to reporting by The East African. India also plans
to open 18 new embassies across Africa, bringing its total number on
the continent to 47, further signalling enhanced commitment to the
region.
In the BRICS summit declaration, the
countries stressed the importance of infrastructure and connectivity for
Africa’s continued development. They affirmed their continued support
“for sustainable infrastructure development in Africa, including
addressing the infrastructure financing deficit.”
countries stressed the importance of infrastructure and connectivity for
Africa’s continued development. They affirmed their continued support
“for sustainable infrastructure development in Africa, including
addressing the infrastructure financing deficit.”
The declaration also highlighted the
importance of multilateral development banks, especially the BRICS-led
New Development Bank (NDB), in increasing private investment and
financing for infrastructure projects.
importance of multilateral development banks, especially the BRICS-led
New Development Bank (NDB), in increasing private investment and
financing for infrastructure projects.
The countries also noted the upcoming
establishment of an NDB Americas Regional Office in São Paulo, Brazil,
which along with the Africa Regional Centre, “will help the NDB
consolidate its presence in those continents.”
establishment of an NDB Americas Regional Office in São Paulo, Brazil,
which along with the Africa Regional Centre, “will help the NDB
consolidate its presence in those continents.”
Next year’s BRICS summit will head to Brazil, who will have the rotating chairmanship of the coalition.
