A Jan. 3 Opinion piece by the editors of Global Times presented an evaluation of the BRICS process by Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, which is affiliated with the Foreign Ministry. A central purpose of the commentary was to dispel the myth that the BRICS is hostile to the West and seeking confrontation.
“BRICS is a non-Western organization, but it is not an anti-Western one,” the Opinion piece stated. “From its inception, BRICS has clearly articulated its role and mission: not starting anew, not engaging in camp confrontation, and not seeking to replace anyone. Its model of multilateral cooperation avoids zero-sum games between major powers and offers a more inclusive paradigm for international relations. It is this inclusivity that has prompted many countries from the Global South to rush to apply for membership in the BRICS family….
“Currently, with geopolitical risks continuing to rise, BRICS partners provide Global South countries with a more inclusive, flexible, and resilient alternative. BRICS not only offers economic cooperation opportunities but also creates a platform for developing countries to have a voice and engage in global governance reform. Through the BRICS platform, the Global South can free itself from the traditional geopolitical pressure of ‘taking sides’ and pursue greater autonomy in a multipolar world….
“BRICS has not followed the Western path of forming exclusive blocs; instead, it has carved out a new path of dialogue, not confrontation; partnership, not alignment.”
