BRICS should ensure the world is free from ‘double standards’: Xi, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Chinese President Xi Jinping urged BRICS nations to unite the Global South to counter "double standards" in the international order.
• He proposed a five-point initiative focused on AI and smart manufacturing for the BRICS grouping.
• Xi criticized the "might makes right" logic and advocated for adherence to international law, including sovereign equality and non-interference.
• The proposals were made during the second session of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.
• China is set to host the next BRICS summit and will assume the Chairmanship from India.

Detailed Insights:

• Xi's call to rally the Global South aims to strengthen the collective voice of developing nations in global governance and challenge existing power structures.
• The emphasis on "double standards" reflects concerns over the selective application of international rules by powerful nations, often perceived as biased.
• China's AI and smart manufacturing initiatives align with its broader strategy to promote its technological standards and platforms globally, amidst its tech competition with the U.S.
• Proposed initiatives include establishing a BRICS AI open source community and a BRICS special economic zone partnership.
• Other technological proposals involve a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, an intelligent manufacturing cooperation initiative, and an engineer cultivation alliance.
• These initiatives aim to foster technological cooperation and industrial upgrading among BRICS and other emerging economies.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Global South: A term referring to developing and emerging countries, primarily in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, sharing common developmental and historical experiences.
• Double Standards: The application of different sets of principles or rules to similar situations, often based on bias or self-interest, particularly in international relations.
• Sovereign Equality: A fundamental principle of international law asserting that all states possess equal rights and duties, regardless of their size or power.
• Non-interference in Internal Affairs: A principle of international law prohibiting states from intervening in the domestic matters of other sovereign states.