The 2016 Informal BRICS Meeting convened on September 4 in the city of Hangzhou, China, against the backdrop of the G20 Leaders’ Summit. As the world’s major emerging economies, the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—held this informal assembly to continue their tradition of discussing shared goals and challenges prior to participating in the larger G20 proceedings.

Hangzhou, a city renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty, served as a fitting location for the meeting. Known for the picturesque West Lake, Hangzhou has been a focal point of Chinese culture and history for centuries, and in modern times, it has become known as a center for innovation and economic growth in China. The city’s prominence was highlighted by its selection as the host city for the 2016 G20 Summit, which brought additional international attention to its development and cultural heritage.

The gathering in 2016 was particularly timely as it occurred during a period of significant economic uncertainty and geopolitical shifts. Issues likely to be prominent on the BRICS agenda included the sluggish global economic recovery post the financial crisis, the implications of Brexit, the challenges posed by terrorism and security concerns, as well as the unfolding refugee crisis affecting many regions of the world.

Economic themes almost certainly featured during the meeting, as member nations sought to find ways to stimulate growth and promote financial stability within their respective countries and collectively. The BRICS nations have historically emphasized the importance of reforming the global financial architecture to better represent the interests of emerging and developing economies. In this sense, discussions might have revolved around the operational progress of the NDB, which had entered into its second year, spotlighting the implementation of its initial projects and exploring avenues for future investments.

Climate change and sustainability were also becoming increasingly urgent topics, particularly as such discussions paved the way for the upcoming COP22 climate negotiations later that year. Given that the BRICS countries are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, their policies and commitments are crucial to international efforts to address climate change.

Additionally, the meeting served as a preparatory ground for the 8th BRICS Summit that was scheduled later that year in October in Goa, India. It provided a prime opportunity for the leaders to outline their visions and set the agenda to foster a more inclusive and interconnected global economy.

In sum, the 2016 Informal BRICS Meeting in Hangzhou, China, was a strategic convergence of leaders from five key emerging national economies, offering a chance to coordinate policy stances on multifarious global issues in anticipation of the broader G20 Summit engagements. These meetings played an incredibly pivotal role in shaping their collaborative endeavors, as they sought to navigate through the intricacies of an increasingly complex international milieu.