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Xi Jinping Unveils BRICS AI Open-Source Community to Challenge US Tech Dominance

Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed establishing a BRICS AI open-source community to promote cooperation on large language models, AI training and applications, as Beijing seeks a greater role in shaping the Global South’s artificial intelligence ecosystem
Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit alongside the BRICS India 2026 logo after proposing an open-source AI community.
September 14, 2026 01:09 PM IST | Written by Supriya Singh | Edited by Vaibhav Jha

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced establishing a ‘BRICS AI’ open source community aimed at building an open ecosystem of artificial intelligence for BRICS nations at the two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday.

As China tries to up its ante against US in the race for AI dominance, Chinese President Xi Jinping used the BRICS 2026 opportunity to reach out to nations especially India and Middle East in this regard. Currently BRICS consists of 11 nations-Brazil, Russia, India, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt and United Arab Emirates.

 

According to Xi Jinping, China will be a pioneer in the BRICS AI open source community and will support the cooperation in developing and applying large language models, hold specialized AI seminars and training courses, and build an open ecosystem for AI. Xi’s proposal was one of five initiatives announced at the New Delhi summit

“We should take a people-centered approach, develop AI for the positive and for good, and work faster to evolve a consensus-based global AI governance framework, so that new technologies can light the way toward shared prosperity,” said Xi.

 

President Xi also called on Global South countries to work together to strengthen security governance, address traditional and non-traditional security threats and improve global climate governance.

He also further urged to accelerate efforts to build a consensus-based global AI governance framework, so that new technologies should contribute to shared prosperity.

“To accomplish great things and achieve major progress, the foundation of greater BRICS cooperation must be cemented,” Xi said, calling for leveraging BRICS’ close ties with fellow emerging markets and global south countries, upholding open cooperation for mutual benefit, safeguarding stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and fostering a large integrated market.

“We should build incubators for innovation, upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging industries, and deploy future industries,” he added.

On the trade and investment facilitation initiative, China has proposed to establish a BRICS special economic zone partnership, under which countries can set up an intelligent portal, coordinate policies, and build a new frontier for open development, Xi said, adding that in an effort to cultivate new drivers of economic and trade cooperation. The country will likely hold the BRICS forum on trade in services in 2027.

On the digital industry cooperation initiative, Xi said that China will push for establishing a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform, and conduct digital skills training, technological exchange and industrial alignment, with an aim to jointly enable the development of the digital economy.

As far as the intelligent manufacturing cooperation initiative is concerned, China will assist fellow BRICS countries in building smart factories and developing standards and norms, and jointly promote manufacturing transformation and upgrading, he said.

In the field of science and technology talent development initiative, the country has proposed to set up a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance for joint development of engineers and mutual recognition of competency standards,

Xi further highlighted that China will launch a BRICS youth exchange program for scientific and technological innovation, with a motive to cultivate more high-caliber talent.

This can be seen as an effort to position Beijing as a central technology partner for BRICS amid its growing AI competition with the US.

Meanwhile the summit host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against turning technology and critical minerals into economic weapons.

President Xi has been constantly emphasizing on the need to create an open-source AI ecosystem as his message was loud and clear at the World AI Cooperation Organization held in July.

During his first in-person appearance at the WAIC 2026, Xi said AI development should not be a “solo performance” by a single country but a “symphony of international cooperation”.

Also Read: US, China likely to hold first bilateral AI safety talks under Trump in September

Authors

  • AI FrontPage Reporter Supriya Singh

    Supriya Singh is a Reporter at AI FrontPage covering the AI & Education and AI & Jobs beats. She brings six years of print and digital experience, including three years at The Asian Age, where she reported on higher education, Delhi government, and crime. She is based in Delhi-NCR.

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  • Vaibhav Jha, editor and co-founder at AI FrontPage

    Vaibhav Jha is an Editor and Co-founder of AI FrontPage. In his decade long career in journalism, Vaibhav has reported for publications including The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and The New York Times, covering the intersection of technology, policy, and society. Outside work, he’s usually trying to persuade people to watch Anurag Kashyap films.

    LinkedIn

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