The theme song for BRICS cooperation, Together We Are, is released at BRICS Forum on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges on 30 March (VISUAL YANGZHOU)

The world is seeing unprecedented changes. Regional conflicts are rising and the trend of de-globalisation is deepening, posing serious challenges to peace, development, security, and governance. All of these pose challenges to human society, according to experts. 

Facing this complex and dangerous situation, as well as uncertainties in the global economy, people of all countries aspire to build a more just and rational global governance system. As a new type of global governance model, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has received significant attention and widespread approval from the international community.  

More than 200 representatives from BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - shared their insights on the governance of the world, the critical role of BRICS countries, and how to promote cultural exchanges among the five countries at the BRICS Seminar on Governance and Cultural Exchange Forum 2023 held on 30-31 March in Yangzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu Province.   

New pattern of development  

In his remarks at the 14th BRICS Summit in June 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that as representatives of emerging markets and developing countries, BRICS countries should make the right decisions and take responsible actions at the critical juncture in history. He called for a more comprehensive, close and practical high-quality partnership so as to jointly embark on a new journey of BRICS cooperation.  

Sun Yeli, minister of the State Council Information Office, told the Yangzhou seminar, “A new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation should be established. We should promote the implementation of the Global Security Initiative to bring stability and positive energy into a world full of uncertainties.” 

Sun urged the BRICS countries to promote the common values of mankind, uphold genuine multilateralism, pursue fairness and justice, promote the reform of the global governance system, and work together to build a community of shared future for mankind. 

“The old world order dominated by the West is crumbling, and the new world order is yet to be born. In this transition period, we need multilateral platforms for peace-loving people in Asia, Africa, Latin America and even the West to voice their opinions,” said renowned Indian scholar Sudheendra Kulkarni. He proposed the establishment of a “BRICS plus” model to accommodate numerous countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America that aspire to join BRICS. 

Anil Sooklal, ambassador-at-large for Asia and BRICS at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said that the main attraction of the BRICS membership is that it allows the country to stay true to its fundamental values, which are to establish a more inclusive and equitable society. He added that multilateralism should be strengthened to contribute to the global economic recovery and the establishment of a stable and peaceful world. 

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, believed that the BRICS countries are important representatives of emerging markets and developing countries, playing an irreplaceable role in promoting global development and also assuming crucial responsibilities. He suggested that the BRICS countries adhere to their own development path, accelerate modernisation and consolidate their right to independent development through innovation. In addition, he believed that the Chinese path to modernisation would provide new opportunities for the common development of the BRICS countries and the global community.   

Global recognition 

At the opening ceremony of the seminar, two new reports on global development and governance - the BRICS in Global Governance: New Role and New Model, and Global Survey: BRICS Cooperation in the New Era of Global Development 2022 - were released by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies on 30 March.  

According to the reports, since its establishment in 2006, the BRICS cooperation mechanism has made remarkable achievements in the fields of global security, economy, trade and finance, sustainable development, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.  

A survey in 25 countries found that a large majority of people believe that the BRICS countries enjoy good governance capacity, and that the BRICS mechanism has made important contributions in promoting economic recovery, uniting against the epidemic, developing cooperation, and climate governance.  

Cultural exchanges 

The opening ceremony on 30 March also released the second series of Co-Produced and Co-Broadcast BRICS Documentary Films and a theme song for BRICS cooperation, Together We Are, which showcase results of people-to-people and cultural exchanges among the BRICS countries. 

Experts believe that friendship, which derives from close contact between people, holds key to robust state-to-state relations. Respecting the diversity of civilisations and promoting close contact between people are the foundation for furthering the BRICS cooperation mechanism. In this aspect, the BRICS countries have made fruitful achievements in cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and have provided a model for dialogue, communication and mutual understanding among civilisations. 

“The differences and integration among the BRICS countries are like the colourful radiance emanating from a rainbow,” said Sooklal. This year, South Africa is chairing the BRICS group of countries and will hold various activities, including media forums, youth summits, civil society organisation forums, and BRICS Games, to further expand platforms for cultural exchanges and cooperation, according to Sooklal. 

Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, professor at the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University and former minister of tourism of Brazil, said that the people of the BRICS countries have frequent friendly exchanges and strong demand for tourism, with huge potential and broad prospects for tourism cooperation. He encouraged these people to go and see each other’s countries, strengthen their emotions, deepen friendship, and continuously consolidate the foundation of BRICS cooperation. 

The broad participation of young people is key to the stable development of cooperation among BRICS countries, said Avijit Banerjee, associate professor and head of the Department of Chinese Language and Culture at Visva Bharati University in India.   

According to Kirtan Bhana, director of the Diplomatic Society of South Africa, the current technological era of communication is ideal to challenge and change unfair and misinformed perceptions. “It presents an opportunity for cooperation to be more complementary and conciliatory and find the solidarity for a shared common present and future,” he said. 

At the forum, the BRICS Association for Visual Arts and the BRICS Media and Think Tank Association were established to promote future communications of intellectual and media resources. 

Key Findings of the Global Survey: BRICS Cooperation 
In the New Era of Global Development 2022 

• The Global Development Initiative enjoys broad consensus; 

• The global governance principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits are highly recognised; 

• The development of BRICS countries helps to propel global development 

• The people in the BRICS countries increasingly feel fulfilled, happy, and secure; 

• The world expects greater contributions from the BRICS countries to global development; 

• The BRICS mechanism effectively promotes world peace and development and mutual learning between civilisations; and 

• BRICS countries should strengthen cooperation on trade, development, and security issues. 

(Source: Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies) 

Reporting from Yangzhou