BRICS Summit Highlights China's Development Philosophy and Its Resonance in the Global South

The 2026 BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi from Saturday to Sunday, brought together leaders of major emerging economies to promote inclusive global governance, strengthen multilateralism, and foster sustainable global economic growth. The summit underscored the growing influence of BRICS as a platform for cooperation among developing nations and highlighted the resonance of China's development philosophy across the Global South.

In his address to Session I of the 18th BRICS Summit on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation. He described the past two decades as years of self-reliance and self-strengthening, during which BRICS countries have actively explored development paths suited to their own national conditions, setting an example of unity among emerging markets and developing countries.

On the sidelines of the summit, the People's Daily released a video titled "Through Xi's Eyes: Finding the answer to the 'warmth of BRICS,'" which features the warmth of multilateral cooperation and how China's development philosophy resonates across the Global South. The video includes interviews with figures such as Busi Mabuza, South African chairperson of the BRICS Business Council, who emphasized that emerging nations share a common bond. "Because most of the Global South countries are recently emerging from developing nation status, they understand the importance of not leaving anybody behind," Mabuza said. She added that BRICS "has opened up relationships in markets that are not just large, but that believe in multilateralism, that believe in supporting BRICS partners through sharing of technology, through sharing of skills."

R. Deepak, a professor of Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, observed that Xi's early years laid the foundation for his people-centered approach and poverty alleviation strategies. Deepak noted that such grassroots governance deeply resonates with nations of the Global South that share similar developmental journeys and strive to build a better life for their people.

The video reflects that for people across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, development is not an abstract concept but concrete improvements, from a paved road to a new job. As nations come together for this common goal, the paths to development and modernization open up to more possibilities.

This matters because it signals a shift in global governance, where emerging economies are increasingly shaping the development agenda. The emphasis on multilateralism and sharing of technology and skills suggests a move away from traditional donor-recipient models toward more equal partnerships. For the Global South, this could mean greater access to resources and knowledge tailored to local contexts, potentially accelerating progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, China's people-centered philosophy, as highlighted by academics like Deepak, offers an alternative framework that prioritizes poverty alleviation and grassroots governance, which may appeal to countries with similar challenges. As BRICS expands its influence, the summit's outcomes could redefine international cooperation, making it more inclusive and responsive to the needs of developing nations. The 2026 summit thus serves as a pivotal moment in reshaping global economic and political dynamics, with China's approach at the forefront of this transformation.