As an epitome of the Global South, why has the BRICS+ mechanism attracted more countries to join?
As the buzzword during the two-day seminar "Global South in Transition: Geopolitical Dynamics and Development Cooperation," which ended on May 25 in Shenzhen, experts from China, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Malaysia told GDToday reporters about the charisma of the expanding group amid a world order in transition.
Shumete Gizaw receives an interview from GDToday on the seminar in Shenzhen on May 24, 2025.
As Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization of Southern Cooperation, an international organization aiming to promote collaboration between Global South countries, Shumete Gizaw underlined that countries would have a diplomatic space to form a new partnership in BRICS and a new opportunity to find financing for development.
Zheng Yongnian receives an interview from GDToday on the seminar in Shenzhen on May 24, 2025.
For countries from ASEAN and Africa, as Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the Institute for International Affairs at Qianhai, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), observes, they seek to join this group as they are eager for development, which is the ultimate goal of the group.
Bhaso Ndzendze receives an interview from GDToday on the seminar in Shenzhen on May 24, 2025.
According to Bhaso Ndzendze, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, BRICS stands for sovereignty, global reform, and mutual development. He noted that mutual development is pivotal for countries interested in joining the mechanism.
Detailing the cooperation between South Africa and China, Ndzendze noted that since South Africa joined BRICS in 2010, there has been significant growth in the domains of agriculture and the development and use of technologies such as AI. He elaborated that China's tech giant Huawei is one of the fastest-growing companies in South Africa.
Additionally, Ndzendze highlighted that Chinese vehicle manufacturers have greater access in South Africa. Those vehicles would have been built using some of the raw minerals that come from South Africa.
Messay Mulugeta Tefera receives an interview from GDToday on the seminar in Shenzhen on May 24, 2025.
Messay Mulugeta Tefera, Associate Professor at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, pointed out two appealing factors: alternative development finance and opportunities in trade and investment.
As Tefera noted, the New Development Bank established by BRICS has become an alternative to traditional multilateral development banks such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank.
He also noted that, given BRICS's abundant natural resources and large population, there can be investment and trade flow among member countries.
Notably, African countries have seen opportunities in energy industries and the leverage of natural resources when trading with the group. He focused on three countries: Algeria, Nigeria, and Uganda. The first is rich in gas, while the last two are rich in petroleum.
Ooi Kee Beng receives an interview from GDToday on the seminar in Shenzhen on May 24, 2025.
As the only guest from ASEAN countries, Ooi Kee Beng, Executive Director at Penang Institute in Malaysia, analyzed the logic behind ASEAN countries joining the BRICS—a consideration of strategic diplomacy and national psyche.
He then emphasized that ASEAN countries, most of which were Western colonies, are not afraid of the West anymore.
Based on his observation, there is a waxing attention on BRICS. "People take it seriously partly because there is more understanding in the Global South, but partly because the West is not really able to counteract the rise of the other poles in the world," he added.
Ooi underscored that what the West needs to learn is that their time as the ones who decide everything is over. He welcomed the phenomenon and noted that this offers countries worldwide a blueprint for planning and creating a world where there is more mutual respect between centers of civilization.
Reporter: Zhang Ruijun
Video: Qin Shaolong
Script: Zhang Ruijun
Poster & Photo: Qin Shaolong
Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He
