Op-Ed Contributors

BRICS has to take up more challenges

By Zheng Xinli (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-04-14 08:02

Apart from the massive gains they can make by solving their domestic problems, the BRICS economies have a lot to benefit from their relationship with developed countries, and vice-versa. In fact, their cooperation can result in a truly win-win situation. The BRICS economies import a huge amount of equipment from developed countries to meet their urbanization and industrialization demands. Their combined demand and the developed countries' capital and technological superiority can drive global economic growth, and help the developed economies to emerge from the global economic crisis.

The BRICS economies' relationship with other developing countries is again a mutually beneficial affair. The expansion of BRICS' markets will especially help countries in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, which can increase their exports. In return, BRICS can take advantage of the rapid development of other developing countries' markets to increase their own exports and growth.

Last year, China imported nearly $1.4 trillion worth of goods. Going at the current growth rate, its imports will reach $3 trillion by 2015. Such a big market is open to all countries, and hopefully more developing countries will capitalize on it to boost their economic growth and employment rate.

The BRCIS economies are increasing their overseas investment, especially in developing countries. For example, China is the biggest investor in Brazil. Besides mutual investments, the BRICS economies are also investing in other developing countries, helping increase local employment and economic development.

The BRICS economies have a lot in common, including their fight against trade protectionism, which some countries have resorted to after the global financial crisis. Some developed countries have imposed a technological blockade and refuse to export high-tech products to the developing economies. This is nothing but "excessive trade protectionism", an "anti-globalization" trend, which is a challenge for the BRICS economies.

The global financial crisis was created because some individuals in major developed countries abused their national credit system and issued excessive amounts of currencies, which resulted in the proliferation of financial products. Now, all countries are mulling ways to reform the international financial and monetary system to stabilize the world economy.

The BRICS economies are more or less the victims of the global financial crisis and, therefore, should cooperate to the fullest extent to reform the international financial and monetary system. It is important that the five countries speak in one voice to increase their say and influence in the international financial system reform.

Climate change is another common challenge for the BRCIS economies. Industrialization in the developed countries began a couple of centuries ago, and they have been emitting greenhouse gases since then. So they should take the major responsibility of fighting climate change. Besides, they should also transfer environmentally friendly technologies to the developing nations at low costs, if not for free, to help the latter adapt to and fight against climate change.

But some developed countries are using the transfer of green technologies to make profits. This is tantamount to sabotaging the development of emerging economies, a move that can be thwarted only if BRICS cooperate on the issue.

The summit of BRICS leaders in Sanya is welcome. But the five countries also need multi-level consultations to learn from each other and meet common development goals if they want to have their say in the new world order.

The author is permanent vice-chairman of China Center for International Economic Exchanges, and former deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.