BRICS can help Global South build resilience beyond supply chains: China Daily ahead of Xi-Modi meeting | Today’s news

BRICS Summit: The 18th BRICS Summit begins in New Delhi.

The summit comes at a time of growing pressure on the global economy, with the US-Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and deepening geopolitical tensions contributing to uncertainty.

Under these circumstances, BRICS cooperation can help countries in the Global South go beyond simply managing supply chain disruptions and build more resilient, self-sufficient economies. Chinese publication he said.

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

BRICS facilitates cooperation among the countries of the Global South, promotes diversified trade, reduces regulatory barriers and increases supply chain security, which together strengthen their economic resilience.

BRICS serves as a platform to strengthen supply chain security for its member countries, enabling them to develop independent paths to long-term growth and manage economic vulnerabilities.

This theme highlights the need for the BRICS countries to work together on sustainable development, innovation and business practices that can withstand global economic challenges, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Increasing the use of the local currency in intra-BRICS trade is essential to reduce exposure to exchange rate volatility and enhance economic stability, as evidenced by its already high prevalence in trade between China and Russia.

BRICS countries can improve transport connectivity by developing cross-border infrastructure such as maritime links and transport corridors that enable smoother customs processes and cargo movement.

Read also | BRICS Summit 2026 LIVE: China’s Xi leaves for Delhi for two-day event

An article published in China Daily argues that rising geopolitical tensions and protectionism are exposing emerging economies to repeated economic shocks. Against this background, he presents the expanding BRICS grouping as a platform that can strengthen not only supply chain security but also what he calls “development chain resilience”.

An article published in China Daily argues that rising geopolitical tensions and protectionism are exposing emerging economies to repeated economic shocks.

The world economy has entered an era of repeated disruptions, the article argues.

BRICS Summit: How to move up the economic ladder

“Geopolitical tensions are deepening, protectionism is on the rise, and global industries and supply chains are increasingly vulnerable to shocks. For many countries in the Global South, the problem is not just how to keep goods moving, but also how to move up the economic ladder as technological barriers remain high, financial risks mount, and traditional sources of growth lose steam,” said Lan Jun Qingxin and Pan in an opinion piece.

Lan Qingxin is director of the BRICS Research Center at the University of International Trade and Economics; and Mr. Juncheng is a PhD student at the School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and Economics.

The Global South is a term used in international relations and economics to describe developing, less developed, or emerging economies primarily located in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.

This is where BRICS cooperation can help, the article states.

“As a major platform for the expanding global south, the BRICS grouping not only enhances supply chain security, but also lays the foundation for what might be called ‘development chain resilience’. This refers to the ability of developing economies not only to withstand disruptions, but also to build stronger and more independent pathways to long-term growth,” it said.

Read also | Today’s BRICS Summit: Key Leaders, Agenda and What to Expect on Day 1

Chinese President Xi Jinping is landing in Delhi today to attend the BRICS 2026 Summit in Delhi. It will be Xi’s first visit to India in nearly seven years. Xi Jinping will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the evening.

Except for Xi Jinping, the Russian president Vladimir PutinSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are among the global leaders hosted by Prime Minister Modi at the summit.

BRICS Summit: Xi’s last visit to India was in 2019

Xi last visited India in 2019 for an informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mamallapuram near Chennai. The last meeting between the two leaders took place on August 31, 2025, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

The first step to achieving development chain resilience is to make trade more diversified and reliable, he argues, adding that BRICS brings together large agricultural producers, manufacturing economies, energy and resource exporters and large consumer markets.

“Their growing complementarity gives countries in the Global South more opportunities to source, export and find partners.”

The first step to achieving development chain resilience is to make trade more diversified and reliable, he argues, adding that BRICS brings together large agricultural producers, manufacturing economies, energy and resource exporters and large consumer markets.(Chinese Daily)

By harmonizing trade rules and reducing regulatory barriers, BRICS cooperation can help more businesses in the Global South gain access to regional and international markets, it said.

BRICS Summit: An example of the Xiamen-Durban route

The BRICS countries held three meetings of transport ministers focused on cross-border connectivity, the article cites new air and sea links and the development of the North-South International Transport Corridor as examples of expanding connectivity.

He cites the Xiamen-Durban route as an example of how information sharing, regulatory recognition and law enforcement cooperation can streamline customs clearance for participating companies.

The Xiamen-Durban Safe and Smart Trade Line is a pioneering pilot sea shipping and customs route connecting Xiamen, China with Durban, South Africa. Launched in August 2025, this initiative is a milestone in the cooperation between Chinese and South African customs authorities within the framework of BRICS.

Both China and South Africa are BRICS members.

In the areas of energy, food and minerals that promote resilience, BRICS cooperation is described as key to global supply chain security.

The paper argues that increasing the use of local currencies in BRICS trade can reduce exposure to exchange rate volatility. It says local currency settlement accounts for more than 65 percent of intra-BRICS trade and has reached 99 percent of trade between China and Russia.

The New Development Bank (formerly known as the BRICS Development Bank) is presented as another pillar of economic resilience. The statement said the bank had approved 141 projects worth $44 billion by June 2026.

Read also | BRICS summit: Can India bridge Middle East divide over Iran war?

Beijing’s visit to India is expected to be a major diplomatic meeting with implications for continued efforts to stabilize bilateral relations between the two Asian powers as well as for BRICS cooperation amid a volatile global situation, particularly West Asian conflict and the Russian-Ukrainian war, PTI news agency reported.

Before the 2019 visit, Xi visited Goa in 2016 to attend the BRICS summit. Xi first visited India in September 2014 when he held extensive talks with Modi. The visit in 2014 took place during the first terms of office of both leaders.

BRICS summit: India and China normalize relations

Xi’s visit is significant as it comes amid efforts by India and China to normalize relations after a long post-2020 freeze. East Ladakh Stalemate.

Ahead of Xi’s visit, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held wide-ranging talks in Beijing last month on the border issue, border peacekeeping and steps to improve bilateral relations.

During the 25th round Special representativesDuring talks held in Beijing on August 25, the two sides reached an eight-point consensus and agreed on progress in discussions on “an early and substantial harvest” of border demarcation and border management.

Read also | Piyush Goyal presents UPI and calls on BRICS to promote trade in local currencies

As a major platform for the expanding Global South, the BRICS grouping not only enhances supply chain security, but also lays the foundation for what might be called “development chain resilience.”

Against the backdrop of these crucial border discussions and broader bilateral issues, the Modi-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit is expected to be closely watched to indicate the future direction of India-China relations.

(With inputs from China Daily)