The 2024 BRICS summit is being held in Kazan, Russia, from Tuesday to Thursday (October 22 to 24, 2024). The BRICS summit provided a great opportunity for the world to understand the position of China as a “Global Peacekeeper”. China, with its commitment to creating a region free from fear of evils, has positioned itself as an advocate of regional peace and stability. China not only played a key role in the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) but has also been significant in the establishment of BRICS.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising of two states that are already permanent members of the United Nation Security Council (UNSC)_China and Russia_ and includes many other states such as Brazil, India, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Together these nations cover 31 percent of the global land area. “Greater BRICS” together constitute about 46 percent of the world’s population and cover about 40 percent of the global energy landscape. In the Kazan Declaration issued at the 16th BRICS summit, the BRICS countries recapitulate the importance of the commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through the channels of negotiations, diplomacy, mediation, as well as their support for multilateral trading system in fostering peace.
China, with its great diplomacy, has always emphasized the importance of mediation and dialogues in resolving disputes. China with its commitment to creating a peaceful region, has always valued the importance of hearing the consensus of other states. With its far-sighted approach, BRICS offer a platform to the nations to adapt more stable and peaceful ways of resolving disputes. BRICS does not represent a hierarchical structure but provides a unique platform where all countries have equal rights despite cultural and religious variations. There is no domination of one power over others; all decisions are made through consensus and mutual understanding.
A platform like BRICS offers a broad picture of China as a promoter of regional stability and connectivity. China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, has adopted a multilateralism approach, creating a room for other nations to enhance their stability and development. China’s concept of a “Community with Shared Future” highlights its commitment to creating a region of mutual understanding and shared future. In this regard, BRICS can serve as a unifying factor, bringing together the regional formats.
While addressing the BRICS summit, President Xi Jinping in his speech with the title of “Embracing a Broader View and Cutting Through the Fog of Challenges to Advance High-Quality Development of Greater BRICS Cooperation,” emphasized the importance of BRICS in enhancing regional connectivity and stability. President Xi Jinping proposed five major goals for the future of BRICS, focusing on a “BRICS commitment to peace”, “Innovation”, “Justice”, “Green development” and “People-to-people exchanges”. Overall, these goals present a perfect model for fostering regional peace and cooperation.
China has emerged as a promoter of peace in the map of the globe through the approach of enhancing people-to-people connection, paving the way for a more adaptable world. President Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of climate-friendly initiative and advocated for fighting against climate change and promoting energy transitions. While promoting cultural significance and climate friendly initiative, China has also played a major role in promoting justice and peace in the region.
In terms of trade and development, China focuses on win-win cooperation, encouraging mutual benefit. It is believed that China represents a true voice for developing countries and new emerging markets. China has made remarkable contributions to the BRICS cooperation process, leading to success ensuring credibility and acceptability. As the largest economy among the BRICS member countries, China has always played a significant role in fostering and promoting BRICS cooperation. President Xi has attended the BRICS Leaders’ Summits for 12 consecutive years, proposing various initiatives and future suggestions to enhance BRICS win-win cooperation.
Following the success of China and BRICS, many other nations are strongly willing to join hand-in-hand with major regional power to take steps towards a better and peaceful future. China’s role in resolving disputes through dialogues and negotiations has created an environment for other nations to enhance regional cooperation. China is a major player within these platforms such as BRICS and in the contemporary world order. Many states in the region are willing to establish partnership with China in order to understand its character as “Peacekeeper”.
“A man of high integrity places the quest of the justice and morality above all personal gains”.
China role in these organization is much more similar to that of an advocate pursuing justice and morality. The BRICS states, located on different hemispheres of the globe, hold diverse historical, social and cultural backgrounds. However, these states are closely connected through their vision of regional development and the commitment to make a fair and just international system free from all the fears of evils. Today’s BRICS family presents a symbol of unity among the global stage advocating the goals of mutual cooperation and connectivity.
Ms. Inshrah Komal, Member Board of Experts, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), Islamabad.
