China also plans to establish a BRICS open-source AI community supporting joint work on large language models and AI training.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for countries to move faster toward common global rules for AI, saying those rules should be based on broad international agreement.
Xi made the call during a Sept. 13 speech at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. He framed it as part of a broader appeal for developing countries to have more influence over international rules.
The speech did not propose specific AI requirements, a timetable for reaching an agreement, or a system for enforcing it.
China proposes BRICS AI initiative
Xi also said China would lead the establishment of an open-source AI community for BRICS countries.
BRICS is an 11-member group of major emerging markets and developing countries that coordinates on economic, political, and technology issues.
Xi said the new community would support cooperation on developing and using large language models. China would also provide specialized AI seminars and training for BRICS countries.
An open-source AI community could allow participating countries and developers to share, examine, and modify parts of AI systems rather than rely entirely on models controlled by individual companies.
Xi did not provide specifics on the proposed community’s structure or what technology China would make available. He also did not say which BRICS members had agreed to participate.
BRICS carries forward earlier AI principles
The summit’s separate New Delhi Declaration committed BRICS members to implement an AI governance statement they adopted in 2025.
The declaration supported wider access to AI resources while calling for AI systems to be safe, secure, inclusive, and reliable. It also called for international cooperation to reduce AI risks, particularly for developing countries.
The declaration does not require member countries to adopt the same AI laws, and it does not impose requirements on companies operating within BRICS markets.
China will assume the BRICS chairmanship in 2027. Neither Xi’s speech nor the summit declaration set a schedule for developing the open-source AI community or advancing negotiations on common global AI rules.
