Chen Fei | Special commentator of the Yangtze News, professor of international politics

With Indonesia officially becoming a member of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, the BRICS family welcomed its first Southeast Asian member.

This not only once again highlights and enhances the representativeness of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, but also injects new vitality into the cooperation among "Global South" countries.

BRICS Countries

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, the country with the largest Muslim population, the third largest developing country in Asia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, a G20 member, and a strategic hub connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Its accession to the BRICS family significantly enhances the influence of this mechanism and marks the comprehensive coverage of the geographical dimensions of the BRICS countries.

Historically, the 1955 Bandung Conference, which was held in Indonesia, has given Indonesia unique symbolic significance in the historical process of developing countries pursuing self-strengthening and solidarity among "Global South" countries.

Indonesia's formal membership in the BRICS group undoubtedly makes the strength of Southeast Asia more prominent within the "Global South."

The BRICS cooperation mechanism has undergone three rounds of expansion. The first expansion was achieved in 2011 when South Africa officially joined. The second expansion took place on January 1, 2024, when Egypt, the UAE, Iran, and Ethiopia joined the BRICS family as official members.

The accession of these new members marks that countries with rich production capacity (such as oil and gas, key resources) and playing an important role in Middle Eastern and African affairs have officially joined BRICS, further enhancing the representativeness and influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism.

Now, Indonesia's formal membership in the BRICS group marks the official start of the BRICS journey in Southeast Asia.

Looking back at the BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg in August 2023, the leaders of the countries clearly expressed their support for Indonesia's application for membership. However, due to the upcoming presidential election in Indonesia, the formal accession process was postponed until after the new government was established.

According to Indonesian media, the then-president Joko Widodo had expressed his hope that Indonesia would prioritize joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), rather than rushing to join BRICS.

With Prabowo's new government in place, Indonesia's position on joining BRICS became more resolute, and it quickly expressed its intention to join, which was eventually agreed upon by all BRICS members.

Additionally, on January 1, 2025, the Southeast Asian countries Thailand and Malaysia were accepted as partner countries of BRICS, and Vietnam was also invited to become a partner country.

This series of developments has undoubtedly further enhanced the influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism in the field of global economic diplomacy, especially in Southeast Asia.

As the vanguard and core force of the "Global South," BRICS countries play a vital role in global affairs.

As defenders of peace, pioneers of development, and bridges of civilization exchange, BRICS countries need to play a more significant and important role in the future.

Firstly, BRICS countries should adhere to the stance of peace and become firm guardians of global peace and stability.

In today's world where the global situation is turbulent and uncertainty is significantly increasing, BRICS countries should play the role of a "stabilizer" in the international community. By deepening cooperation among themselves, they can jointly address regional conflicts and global challenges, and strive to build a lasting peaceful and stable international order.

Secondly, BRICS countries should revitalize the development engine and become a strong force in promoting global common prosperity.

Facing the severe challenges of sluggish global economic recovery and the growing development gap, BRICS countries should work hand in hand to promote economic globalization towards a more open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win direction, and make positive contributions to the prosperity and stability of the global economy.

Thirdly, BRICS countries should promote cultural exchange and become active promoters of mutual learning between civilizations.

BRICS countries have rich and diverse cultural traditions and forms of civilization. They should further strengthen people-to-people exchanges, promote dialogue and understanding between different civilizations, and jointly promote the diversity and inclusiveness of human civilization.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism is not intended to build a "anti-Western alliance," but rather aims to promote the development of a more inclusive and fair global governance structure.

Currently, "Global South" countries account for more than 40% of the world's economic output and play an increasingly important role in promoting world peace, upholding fairness and justice, and jointly addressing global challenges.

These countries are not only important forces in promoting world peace and development, but also positive factors for the stability, goodness, and progress of the current world.

However, the current global governance system is clearly lagging behind the development of the international situation, and the representation and voice of "Global South" countries in global governance have not been fully reflected.

This not only hinders the development and revitalization of "Global South" countries, but also affects the ability of the international community to effectively respond to global challenges.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism is committed to building a more inclusive and fair global governance architecture through multilateral cooperation, thus promoting the development of the international order towards a more just and reasonable direction.

Indonesia's accession undoubtedly brings new momentum to the BRICS cooperation mechanism. As an important country in Southeast Asia, Indonesia plays a significant role in regional affairs and global governance.

Its accession will further enhance the voice of BRICS countries in global governance and contribute to the reform and improvement of the global governance system.

At the same time, the continuous development of the BRICS cooperation mechanism provides more opportunities and platforms for cooperation among "Global South" countries, helping these countries jointly address global challenges, promote dialogue and understanding between different civilizations, and drive the prosperity and stability of the world economy.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7618524959208210978/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.