Xi Jinping's BRICS Summit Speech Transcript & Chinese Official Readout of Xi-Modi Meeting
Chinese President Xi paid a visit to Kazan for the 16th BRICS summit and addressed a speech tonight. I know I’ve publied one today, but how can I miss this?
Here are some of my takes:
Talking about Gaza
When I was watching live, President Xi called for a ceasefire and ending the killing.
我们要推动尽快停火、停止杀戮，为全面、公正、持久解决巴勒斯坦问题不懈努力。
I noticed some translated “停止杀戮“ to “stop genocide” when watching live, but I would argue that “stop killing“ is a more appropriate translation. Two words convey totally different definitions. CGTN's official ver translation suggests the same.
About the BRICS Financial system
当前形势下，国际金融架构改革紧迫性突出。金砖国家要发挥引领作用，深化财金合作，促进金融基础设施互联互通，维护高水平金融安全，做大做强新开发银行，推动国际金融体系更好反映世界经济格局变化。
I noticed President Xi did call for “International financial reform.“ to “more effectively reflect the change in the global economic landscape.“ However, there are no words directly talking about BRICS payments or BRICS currency.
“Global South“ Identity
Xi defined the BRICS as the main channel for “Global South” cooperation. In his speech, the word “Global South“ is mentioned for four times. Identity is important to generate cohesion. However, from a Chinese perspective, this solidarity isn't predicated on opposition to the "Global North."
CGTN’s official translation is available here: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-10-23/Full-text-Xi-Jinping-s-speech-at-the-16th-BRICS-Summit-1xWcSSecSRi/p.html
Embracing a Broader View and Cutting Through the Fog of Challenges to Advance High-Quality Development of Greater BRICS Cooperation
First of all, I wish to extend my warm congratulations on the successful opening of this summit. I also wish to thank President Putin and our host Russia for the thoughtful arrangements and warm hospitality.
I would like to take this opportunity to once again welcome new members to our BRICS family. The enlargement of BRICS is a major milestone in its history and a landmark event in the evolution of the international situation. At this summit, we have decided to invite many countries to become partner countries, which is another major progress in the development of BRICS. As we Chinese often say, "A man of virtue regards righteousness as the greatest interest." It is for our shared pursuit and for the overarching trend of peace and development that we BRICS countries have come together. We must make full use of this summit, maintain the momentum of BRICS and consider and devise our strategy to address issues that have a global impact, determine our future direction and possess strategic significance. We must build on this milestone summit to set off anew and forge ahead with one heart and one mind.
As the world enters a new period defined by turbulence and transformation, we are confronted with pivotal choices that will shape our future. Should we allow the world to descend into the abyss of disorder and chaos, or should we strive to steer it back on the path of peace and development? This reminds me of a novel by Nikolay Chernyshevsky entitled What Is to Be Done? The protagonist's unwavering determination and passionate drive are exactly the kind of willpower we need today. The more tumultuous our times become, the more we must stand firm at the forefront, exhibiting tenacity, demonstrating the audacity to pioneer and displaying the wisdom to adapt. We must work together to build BRICS into a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations and a vanguard for advancing global governance reform.
– We should build a BRICS committed to peace and we must all act as defenders of common security. We humans are an indivisible community of security. Only by embracing the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security can we pave the way for universal security. The Ukraine crisis still persists. China and Brazil, in collaboration with other countries from the Global South, initiated a group of Friends for Peace to address the crisis. The aim is to gather more voices advocating peace. We must uphold the three key principles: no expansion of the battlefields; no escalation of hostilities; and no fanning flames, and strive for swift deescalation of the situation. While the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the flames of war have once again been rekindled in Lebanon and conflicts are escalating among the parties. We must promote an immediate ceasefire and an end to the killing. We must make unremitting efforts toward a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question.
– We should build a BRICS committed to innovation and we must all act as pioneers of high-quality development. As the latest round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is advancing at an accelerated speed, we must keep pace with the times and foster new quality productive forces. China has recently launched a China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center. We are ready to deepen cooperation on innovation with all BRICS countries to unleash the dividends of AI development. China will establish a BRICS Deep-Sea Resources International Research Center; a China Center for Cooperation on Development of Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries; a China Center for BRICS Industrial Competencies; and a BRICS Digital Ecosystem Cooperation Network. We welcome active participation from all interested parties to promote the high-quality upgrading of BRICS cooperation.
– We should build a BRICS committed to green development and we must all act as promoters of sustainable development. Green is the defining color of our times. It is important that all BRICS countries proactively embrace the global trend of green and low-carbon transformation. China's high-quality production capacity, as exemplified by its manufacturing of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products, provides a significant boost to global green development. China is willing to leverage its strengths to expand cooperation with BRICS countries in green industries, clean energy and green mining and promote green development through the entire industrial chain, so as to increase the "green quotient" of our cooperation and upgrade the quality of our development.
– We should build a BRICS committed to justice and we must all act as forerunners in reforming global governance. The international power dynamics is undergoing profound changes, but global governance reform has lagged behind for a long time. We should champion true multilateralism and adhere to the vision of global governance characterized by extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. We must ensure that global governance reform is guided by the principles of fairness, justice, openness and inclusiveness. In light of the rise of the Global South, we should respond favorably to the calls from various countries to join BRICS. We should advance the process of expanding BRICS membership and establishing a partner country mechanism and enhance the representation and voice of developing nations in global governance.
The current developments make the reform of the international financial architecture all the more pressing. BRICS countries should play a leading role in the reform. We should deepen fiscal and financial cooperation, promote the connectivity of our financial infrastructure and apply high standards of financial security. The New Development Bank should be expanded and strengthened. We must ensure that the international financial system more effectively reflects the changes in the global economic landscape.
– We should build a BRICS committed to closer people-to-people exchanges and we must all act as advocates for harmonious coexistence among all civilizations. BRICS countries boast a profound and illustrious historical and cultural heritage. It is important that we promote the spirit of inclusiveness and harmonious coexistence among civilizations. We should enhance the exchange of governance experiences among BRICS countries and fully harness the untapped potential for cooperation in areas such as education, sports and the arts so that our diverse cultures can inspire one another and illuminate the path forward for BRICS. Last year, I proposed an initiative for BRICS digital education cooperation and I am delighted to see that it has become a reality. China will implement a capacity-building program for BRICS digital education. We will open 10 learning centers in BRICS countries in the next five years and provide training opportunities for 1,000 local education administrators, teachers and students. This will be a tangible step to deepen and strengthen people-to-people exchanges among BRICS countries.
Colleagues,
China is willing to work with all BRICS countries to open a new horizon in the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation and join hands with Global South countries in building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Thank you.
Another big issue is Xi and Modi are holding their first talks in two years and their first face-to-face meeting in five years. Just two days before this meeting, China and India reached a pack to resolve the border conflict. I said It would surprise me if there’s no meeting between Xi and Modi during the summit. The result is even better.
Overall, the mood conveyed in the readout is generally optimistic. While the border issue - a major point of bilateral tension - received only brief mention (two sentences), the bulk of the statement focused on economic cooperation and shared development goals. Xi defined the relationship as:
中印关系本质是两个14亿多人口的相邻发展中大国如何相处的问题。发展是中印两国当前最大的“公约数”。
The essence of China-India relations is a question of how two neighboring developing powers, each with over 1.4 billion people, can coexist. Development is currently the greatest “common denominator” between China and India.
Below is the translation I made:
Source: https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202410/content_6982448.htm
Xi Jinping pointed out that China and India are both ancient civilizations, major developing countries, and important members of the Global South, each at crucial stages in their respective national modernization. Correctly grasping historical trends and the direction of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples. Both sides should strengthen communication and cooperation, enhance strategic mutual trust, and help realize each other's development dreams. Both sides should also shoulder international responsibilities, set an example for developing countries in united self-improvement, and contribute to world multipolarity and democratization of international relations.
Xi Jinping emphasized that the essence of China-India relations is how two neighboring developing powers, each with over 1.4 billion people, can coexist. Development is currently the greatest "common denominator" between the two countries. Both sides should maintain important consensuses such as "being each other's development opportunities rather than threats" and "being cooperative partners rather than competitive rivals," maintain correct strategic understanding, and jointly pursue the bright path of neighborly coexistence and common development.
Modi stated that maintaining stable development of India-China relations is crucial for both countries and their peoples, concerning the wellbeing and future of 2.8 billion people, and is also vital for regional and global peace and stability. Under current complex international circumstances, cooperation between India and China, as two ancient civilizations and economic engines, benefits economic recovery and world multipolarity. India is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China, enhance strategic mutual trust, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. India fully supports China's role as SCO rotating chair and wishes to strengthen communication and cooperation within multilateral frameworks like BRICS.
Both leaders positively evaluated recent important progress in resolving border-related issues through intensive communication. Modi proposed ideas and suggestions for improving bilateral relations, which Xi principally agreed with.
Both sides agreed to:
Utilize the Special Representatives' meeting mechanism on boundary issues to maintain peace in border areas and seek fair, reasonable solutions
Promote dialogue between foreign ministers and officials at various levels to return bilateral relations to stable development.
Strengthen communication and cooperation in multilateral forums to protect developing countries' common interests.
Both sides considered this meeting constructive and significant, agreeing to view and handle bilateral relations from strategic and long-term perspectives, not letting specific differences affect the overall relationship, and making positive contributions to regional and global peace, prosperity, and multipolarity.
Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and others attended the meeting.