Latest news with #BRICSMediaandThinkTankForum

The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum calls for greater Global South role in shaping global AI governance
At the seventh plenary session of the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum (earlier known as the 'BRICS Media Forum'), more than 250 representatives from media organisations, think tanks, government agencies and enterprises from 36 countries gathered in Rio de Janeiro to deliberate on ways to foster greater South-South co-operation, including on joint R&D and co-established standards, for a more equitable sharing of Artificial Intelligence (AI) benefits across nations. A major concern that emerged was the risks of AI capabilities being concentrated among a few actors located in a handful of countries, with several participants noting that it could create dangerous dependencies for Global South nations. The Forum, organised on July 15-17, highlighted the importance of open source development of AI as well as the need for Global South nations to work together for a greater say in the shaping of AI governance frameworks. Mr Thorsten Jelinek, Europe Director and Senior Fellow of Taihe Institute, pointed out that some amount of 'regulatory autonomy' is critical to maintain the balance between multilateralism and sovereignty. 'The history of modern technology, whether it is telecommunications or the internet, has been shaped not only by innovation but also by technological, economic and institutional hierarchies and dependencies,' he noted, adding that the right governance framework would encourage AI as 'a moral partner' to growth and development. The Forum's lead statement on AI also called on media organisations and think tanks in the Global South to develop a 'multilingual and multimodal corpus'. This would 'lay the foundation for training large-scale AI models that serve journalism and think tank research.' By 'leveraging AI to translate quality content into multiple languages,' it will become possible to increase 'the availability of 'Global South Stories', elevate the international voice and influence of the Global South' and showcase the diversity of Global South civilisations, it said. Mr Fu Hua, Executive Chairman of the Forum and president of Xinhua News Agency, observed that BRICS was becoming the 'main channel for fostering Global South unity and self-reliance'. Noting that the BRICS countries represent vast civilisational diversity and pluralism, he urged BRICS media organisations and think tanks to prioritise and amplify stories from different parts of the Global South as a necessary corrective to the prevailing hegemonies and biases in the international media landscape. Speaking in the context of the US threat to impose additional punitive tariffs on countries wanting to join BRICS, Mr Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, emphasised that the BRICS grouping was not in opposition to any country but a mechanism 'to seek equity and justice' in the international governance scenario. 'Given that the world seems to be going back to the jungle rule of tariff turbulence, BRICS nations must co-operate more to protect their interests and oppose unilateralism,' he said. 'The US is our biggest trade partner, we have a free trade agreement with them, nearly 40 million Mexicans live in the US, and despite all this, we are living with daily threats of tariffs, and millions of Mexicans in the US could lose their citizenship any day,' said Ms Yeidckol Polevnsky Gurwitz, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Relations Committee of the Mexican Senate, adding, 'The world cannot organise itself around unilateralism and inequity, it needs to be built around co-operation and multilateralism.' Organised by Xinhua News Agency in collaboration with partners from BRICS nations, the Forum officially launched the 'Global South Joint Communication Partnership Program', an initiative by Xinhua to promote dialogue and cooperation across various sectors within the Global South. So far, 700 institutions have joined the Partnership Program, which leverages two core platforms – the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum and the Global South Media News Network. The Forum also launched a new report by Xinhua, titled 'The Rise of the Global South', a compilation that showcases stories of political and economic resurgence in post-colonial societies across Asia, Africa and Latin America.


Cision Canada
a day ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
BRICS media, think tanks convene to promote BRICS cooperation, new vision for Global South
Over 250 representatives from nearly 150 media outlets, think tanks, government agencies, and regional organizations across 36 countries gathered here on Wednesday for the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum, an event focusing on how to advance BRICS cooperation and strengthen solidarity across the Global South. In his keynote remarks, Fu Hua, forum chair and president of Xinhua News Agency, said greater BRICS cooperation has played a critical role in unifying Global South countries, boosting their influence in global affairs, and driving reform in global governance. As the forum enters its second decade, Xinhua is committed to working with its BRICS counterparts to tell the Global South's stories more effectively, promote joint research on major issues, and deepen professional collaboration, Fu added. Zhu Qingqiao, Chinese ambassador to Brazil, in a congratulatory letter, praised the forum's inclusion of discussions on artificial intelligence and highlighted its role in advancing the outcomes of the 17th BRICS Summit. Zhu expressed hope that the event would further position BRICS as a platform for South-South cooperation and a voice for reform in global governance. Other speakers echoed their calls. Carlos Hernandez, president of the Central American Parliament, said global governance is in urgent need of new models and new voices. "The countries represented here today have shown the way forward: one grounded in equitable development, dignity, and multilateralism," he said. Mikhail Gusman, first deputy director-general of TASS Russian News Agency, noted that BRICS nations reflect the diversity of emerging economies. Facing growing global media challenges, BRICS media cooperation has an important role in defending truth, justice and peace, he said. Tia Ju, vice president of the Legislative Assembly of the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, praised China's efforts to unite Global South countries and emphasized the need for media collaboration to increase international visibility and influence for BRICS. Yeidckol Polevnsky Gurwitz, chair of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Relations Committee of the Mexican Senate, said that Mexico shares with BRICS a vision of inclusive growth and fair trade. "We cannot allow external interference in our development paths. Together, we must build a multipolar world," she said, referencing China's concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity. The forum concluded with the release of a think tank report titled "BRICS Cooperation: Advancing the Collective Progress of the Global South" and the launch of two major initiatives: Global South Joint Communication Partnership Program and "Tapping into BRICS, Voices from the South" Content Collaborative Project. The forum marked the first full meeting of the BRICS media mechanism since the bloc's historic expansion and was co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and Brazil Communication Company under the theme "BRICS United: Forging a New Chapter for the Global South."

Barnama
2 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
BRICS Media, Think Tank Forum Releases Initiative On AI Cooperation, Development
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 18 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum released an initiative on AI cooperation and development on Wednesday, calling for joint efforts to explore AI-empowered journalism and think tank research, Xinhua News Agency reported. The initiative formed a key consensus on building synergies to reshape global communication, deepening collaboration to forge new models of industrial cooperation, and leveraging intelligent production to create a new ecosystem of knowledge sharing. The participants agreed that the AI revolution is reshaping the global information landscape, creating new opportunities for digital transformation in the Global South, while exacerbating systemic risks such as technological monopolies and data hegemony.


Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum releases initiative on AI cooperation, development
Attendees at the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 16, 2025. — Xinhua photo RIO DE JANEIRO (July 18): The BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum released an initiative on AI cooperation and development on Wednesday, calling for joint efforts to explore AI-empowered journalism and think tank research. The initiative formed important consensus on building synergies to reshape global communication, deepening collaboration to forge new models of industrial cooperation, and leveraging intelligent production to build a new ecosystem of knowledge sharing. The participants agreed that the AI revolution is reshaping the global information landscape, creating new opportunities for digital transformation in the Global South, while exacerbating systemic risks such as technological monopolies and data hegemony. Therefore, BRICS media and think tanks should ground their efforts in the development realities of the Global South, foster a collaborative paradigm featuring joint technological research, shared standard-setting and collaborative governance deliberation to ensure that AI advancements benefit all humanity. They also urged BRICS media and think tanks to take this initiative as a starting point to provide implementable frameworks — through collaborative information networks and co-created narratives — for Global South nations to harness digital opportunities and reform the international order, jointly pioneering a new era of civilisational symbiosis in the age of AI. Under the theme 'BRICS United: Forging a New Chapter for Global South,' the forum, held from Tuesday to Thursday, attracted over 250 delegates spanning media outlets, think tanks, government institutions, enterprises from 36 countries, including BRICS member states and partner nations, as well as regional organisations. — Xinhua AI-empowered journalism BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum


Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
BRICS nations reshaping global perspectives through media and think tank cooperation
Xinhua News Agency president Fu Hua meets with important guests attending the BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 16, 2025. — Xinhua photo RIO DE JANEIRO (July 18): The BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum, convened this week in Rio de Janeiro, brought together voices from across the Global South to jointly reshape the narrative system and enhance the representation of developing countries in international affairs. The event served as a pivotal gathering for over 250 delegates from media outlets, think tanks, government institutions, and enterprises representing 36 countries, including BRICS member states, partner nations and regional organizations. Based on the broad consensus of the attendees, the forum delved into a range of critical topics under the theme 'BRICS United: Forging a New Chapter for the Global South.' Discussions focused on BRICS' role in leading the Global South's development, building a new digital future, and amplifying the voice of the Global South on the international stage. Building a shared digital future An initiative on artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation and development was unveiled at the forum, following extensive discussions among attendees on the roles and responsibilities of media and think tanks in advancing AI collaboration, shaping governance frameworks, and establishing technical standards for the Global South. Highlighting AI's significant momentum in global communication, industrial cooperation and knowledge sharing, the initiative noted that the BRICS media and think tanks, as a community of collective wisdom among emerging markets and developing countries, must ground their efforts in the realities of the Global South. It called for fostering a collaborative approach to R&D, standards and governance to ensure AI benefits are shared globally. Though AI has great potential to improve the quality of life worldwide, the enthusiasm for its benefits should not overshadow the potential risks posed by both intentional and unintentional use of its applications, said Edson Prestes e Silva Junior, a full professor at Institute of Informatics of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 'Therefore, we need to strengthen collaboration between our countries and between the different segments of our societies, and that is exactly what we are doing right now,' he said at the forum. 'Only then will we be able to make the AI domain beneficial to our societies, now and in the future.' Shaping global governance In a world marked by geopolitical tensions, persistent inequalities and the urgent need for more representative global governance, the BRICS group has emerged as a key platform for engaging with rising economies, said Luis Rene Fernandez Tabio, a full professor at the International Economic Research Center at the University of Havana, Cuba. Echoing his view, Jose Juan Sanchez, chief of Brazil's financial and agricultural information provider CMA Group, said that despite their political and economic differences, BRICS countries share some strategic advantages that can be leveraged to advance the Global South's development and amplify its influence in global affairs. BRICS countries possess strong economic clout, abundant natural resources, development experience and financing capacity, positioning them as natural leaders in supporting the Global South, Sanchez noted. He added that by acting collectively and promoting cooperation, BRICS can reshape the global order to be more multipolar, inclusive and just. Ali Muhammad Ali, managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria, said BRICS is 'not just a grouping of emerging economies; we are a force to be reckoned with, and our influence is growing by the day.' 'For Nigeria, joining BRICS is a no-brainer. We are strategically positioned in Africa, and we are eager to reshape global governance, challenge Western-dominated institutions, and push for systemic reforms,' he added. Amplifying Global South's voice 'We are living through a transformative era — one in which global power dynamics are shifting, and the overlooked voices of the Global South are finally gaining clarity, strength and recognition,' said Datuk Wong Chun Wai, chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama). BRICS offers an alternative voice — one that champions multipolarity, sovereignty and fairness in global governance, Wong noted. 'The rise of BRICS is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of a broader awakening of the Global South, which is asserting itself as a central force in international affairs.' Mikhail Gusman, first deputy director-general of TASS, said the global media is grappling with unprecedented challenges: a deluge of disinformation, historical revisionism, and technological disruptions eroding the very foundations of truth. As a dynamic alliance embodying the voice of emerging economies and civilizational diversity, BRICS plays a decisive role in advancing the objective of strengthening a fair, multipolar and rules-based international order, Gusman added. The BRICS voice is 'loud and clear,' said Ali, the managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria, who noted that it represents a growing influence beyond the Global South and is shaping global governance, economic development, and international relations. 'We envision a prosperous Global South and a more just and equitable world,' he concluded. — Xinhua BRICS Media and Think Tank Forum Global South