BRICS Summit In Rio Underscores Global South’s Rising Voice, CGTN Reports

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- Greater BRICS cooperation is amplifying the voice of the Global South and accelerating calls for global governance reform, according to a recent China Global Television Network (CGTN) report released during the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The summit saw the New Development Bank (NDB) welcome Colombia and Uzbekistan as new members, while Vietnam joined as a BRICS partner country—developments that reflect growing momentum behind the "Greater BRICS" model. 

According to CGTN in a statement, the bloc now encompasses major economies across four continents, representing nearly half the world’s population and over 50 per cent of global growth.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged BRICS to become a “vanguard for global governance reform”, a message echoed by Premier Li Qiang, who called on member states to uphold independence and deepen cooperation.

Premier Li also announced a BRICS research centre and a scholarship programme to support talent development in key industries.

Since launching the BRICS Plus framework, China has been instrumental in expanding outreach to emerging economies. Its initiatives include support for peace efforts, digital economy partnerships, and cultural exchanges under platforms such as the BRICS Youth Forum and Vocational Education Alliance.

CGTN data revealed strong global support for China’s role within BRICS, with 90.4 per cent of respondents recognising its leadership and backing its initiatives for South-South cooperation and modernisation.

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted BRICS’s rising economic clout, noting that the bloc now accounts for 40 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), with a 2024 growth rate of four per cent, surpassing the global average.

The NDB, led by its president Dilma Rousseff, has approved over US$40 billion in development projects. Rousseff stressed the bank’s equal-governance model, serving the unique needs of the Global South. (US$1=RM4.23)

According to CGTN, 91.2 per cent of global respondents believe BRICS plays a critical role in building a multipolar world—an endorsement of the bloc’s growing strategic importance.

The summit closed with the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, reaffirming BRICS’s push for a more balanced, inclusive and rules-based international order.

-- BERNAMA