REVEALED: China's Global South Game Ahead of BRICS Summit in Brazil

China is stepping up its efforts to position BRICS as a platform for development-focused multilateralism. This comes as Brazil prepares to host the BRICS Summit under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”. 

In April, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the headquarters of the New Development Bank (NDB) in Shanghai — an institution co-founded by BRICS members in 2014 — and met with its president, Dilma Rousseff, former President of Brazil. 

Image Source: File Photo via Jingjing_Li on X

Xi had described the bank as a pioneering initiative for countries of the Global South to consolidate cooperation through shared financial infrastructure.

The BRICS mechanism, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has emerged as a key diplomatic forum for countries seeking alternatives to Western-dominated global institutions. Under Xi’s leadership, China has consistently linked BRICS expansion and initiatives to the broader goal of amplifying Global South representation in global governance.

At the 2024 “BRICS Plus” Dialogue in Kazan, Russia, Xi stated that the “collective rise of the Global South” is a defining feature of current global realignment. He stated China’s identity as a developing country and member of the Global South, emphasizing shared development goals and historical experiences with other emerging economies.

China has also tied its broader diplomatic posture to the Global South through infrastructure partnerships under the Belt and Road Initiative, development funding, and trade agreements. During last year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, China pledged a package of development support measures for African countries, including zero-tariff access for goods from least developed nations.

The Global Development Initiative (GDI), launched by Xi at the UN General Assembly in 2021, has since gained support from over 100 countries. Xi has also publicly backed African Union membership in the G20, which was formalized during the 2023 Indian presidency of the group.

China attempts to present itself as a representative and advocate for the Global South within forums such as the G20, BRICS, and the UN, arguing for greater equity in international governance. At the upcoming BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Beijing is eyes are on its support for institutional reforms and economic cooperation frameworks that can strengthen South-South linkages.