Xi Jinping: Global South Emergence is 'Irreversible Trend'

The Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “solidarity and cooperation” among countries of the global south, emphasizing that the collective rise of developing countries is an “irreversible trend of our times,” during a period of “adjustment of the world economic structure,” Xinhua reported.

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Xi's remarks came at the close of the ninth BRICS summit on September 5th, hosted this year in the Chinese city of Xiamen. Reiterating his previous calls to resist “protectionism,” he called for the gathering of emerging economies to continue to amplify their roll in bringing together a more fair and equitable economic order.

The President also called for the need to pressure for “greater representation and voice” of global south and emerging economies in forums of international governance.

“Emerging markets,” which Xi emphasized account for aroudn 80 percent of total global growth in 2016, are today the “main engine” of the world economy, the President and Communist Party of China leader said.

In this moment, Xi believes that it is necessary for countries of the global south to “enhance solidarity and cooperation to jointly seize the historical opportunity arising from the adjustment of the world economic structure.”

As the current holder of the BRICS presidency, China proposed “BRICS Plus,” which would invite leaders of other emerging economies not included in the original five to attend the economic summit.

“The emerging market and developing countries should dare to innovate and reform, and drastically push forward economic restructuring so as to unleash their internal growth power,” Xi said.

Xi said that the “top priority” of emerging economies remains the push toward sustainable development on the economic, social, and environmental fronts.

Dialogue between countries of the global south will “strengthen solidarity and cooperation among emerging market and developing countries, and also contribute to the building of BRICS mechanism. Emerging market and developing countries, who face similar development tasks, can multiply their impact by deepening practical cooperation and tapping into their complementary advantages.”

President Alpha Conde of Guinea, who is currently the Chair of the African Union, and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, attended the summit and called for increased cooperation between BRICS and African countries.

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“The advent of BRICS is already scaring people in some quarters by its determination to build a more just and equitable world economic order,” Conde, the African Union leader said.

Following China, South Africa is scheduled to be the next BRICS summit host in 2018. South African President Jacob Zuma also spoke at this years summit and called on greater BRICS cooperation in Africa.

China's leadership has taken a leading role in promoting the expansion of BRICS and “South-South cooperation.”

Promoting a broad vision of a more equitable globalization that reflects an emerging multi-polar political-economic order, Xi has attacked those countries that have turned toward economic nationalism and protectionism.

“Some countries have become more inward-looking, and their desire to participate in global development cooperation has decreased,” Xi was quoted as saying by Reuters.