While emphasising how Brics offers member states a “huge opportunity to expand and grow,” Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa (India) and the former CEO of NITI Aayog, noted that China needs to do more to enable the process
While emphasising how Brics offers member states a “huge opportunity to expand and grow,” Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa (India) and the former CEO of NITI Aayog, noted that China needs to do more to enable the process.
While speaking at the session titled “America Cementing Brics” during the Brics Dialogues, an initiative by CNN-News18 in partnership with Firstpost, Kant pointed out how China has not been “allowing global imports and even imports from the Brics-member countries.” ” China, the real exploring country, doesn’t allow many exports from other nations,” he said.
Kant mentioned how the US has the largest share of fossil fuels, and China has rich minerals, and battery and other tech supplies. Hence, the country’s “economy has to be opened up”, he said, adding that Indian manufacturers find it impossible to export to China.
Kant maintained that trade among Brics nations has to expand to deal with the challenges world economies are currently facing due to global conflicts and uncertainties.
Brics move forward despite differences
Ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Brics Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a four-line Sanskrit verse to set the philosophical tone for high-level engagements. In essence, the lines said: “The wise can debate, disagree and still build friendship”.
While sharing his take on the upcoming Modi-Xi meeting, Ambassador Jawed Ashraf, Chairman of ITPO and former Ambassador of India to France and Monaco, noted that when leaders have meetings during Brics or events like these, “it gives an opportunity to enhance comfort and cooperation.”
More from Business“The reason Brics has been able to move forward is that despite issues, people can put their issues aside and come together. There is always a way to build common ground,” he said at the opening session of the dialogue.
Ambassador Ashraf pointed out how there has been de-linking between the West and China, pointing to the 70 per cent decline in Western investment in China, especially in future shipping industries. “China is diversifying away from the US.”
The Indian diplomat also pointed out that there is a shift in “how countries around the world are placing themselves for the future.” He noted that under such circumstances, it becomes instrumental “to align domestic policies and maintain tranquillity.”
Brics Dialogues is an initiative by CNN-News18 in partnership with Firstpost which brings forward the current conversations around the complex personal agendas that come together when nations meet at the Brics Summit on September 12-13 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
To mark the 18th edition of the Brics Summit, the agenda comprises 18 sessions, led by 18 key conversations on today’s zeitgeist.
Speakers include Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs; Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS(Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO,PP/ DoPT, Atomic Energy, Space; Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation; Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa (India), former CEO, NITI Aayog; Dr Shashi Tharoor, MP (Lok Sabha), INC and former Union Minister; Jeffery Sachs, American Economist; Amb Ashok Kantha, Former Ambassador of India to the People’s Republic of China; John Denton, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce; Lord Jim O’Neill, British Economist who coined ‘BRIC’, and others.
The event is a premium half-day, on-ground forum with the 2026 edition being held at the Leela Palace in Delhi on September 11, bringing together policymakers, opinion leaders and prominent voices for meaningful conversations on the future of the Global South.
The talks will explore global governance, supply-chain resilience, new business frontiers and India’s role within Brics.
