How BRICS builds consensus amid growing diversity after big expansion

Editor's note: Xu Feibiao, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a senior researcher and the director of the Center for BRICS and G20 Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR). The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. Since BRICS began its new round of expansion in August 2023, the current number of BRICS members has doubled, reaching 11 countries, and 10 BRICS partner countries – often referred to as "semi-members" – have been added. BRICS has thus entered a new phase of "Greater BRICS Cooperation. " At the same time, some skeptical and pessimistic voices, largely from Western countries, have also increased and intensified.

Among various voices, there is a viewpoint that is quite popular, which holds that the rapid increase in BRICS members and the increase in heterogeneity will inevitably increase the difficulty of reaching consensus, reduce decision-making efficiency, and ultimately lead to the decline of BRICS amid contradictions and differences. However, this is merely a small part of the development of the situation. The greater truth is that the differences among the BRICS countries have not hindered the continuous progress of BRICS cooperation. In fact, in the three years since the launch of the "Greater BRICS cooperation," the cooperation achievements have been remarkable, with internal cooperation expanding rapidly in areas such as the economy, finance, agriculture, industry and artificial intelligence. At the same time, BRICS has launched new initiatives and plans on climate change, health and reform of international institutions, some of which are gradually gaining global influence. The bloc is also upgrading its cooperation framework, moving toward a broader structure…