The 2022 BRICS Summit, which took place virtually from June 22 to 24, was hosted by Beijing, the capital city of China. The summit was conducted online due to ongoing concerns and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of participants while maintaining the continuity of the BRICS cooperation and dialogue.

This virtual gathering marked the 14th annual summit of the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These nations represent some of the largest and most influential emerging economies in the world, with the summit serving as a platform for discussing economic, political, and social issues of mutual interest and global significance.

The theme for the 2022 summit revolved around the concept of fostering high-quality BRICS partnerships and ushering in a new era of global development, which aptly reflected the collective endeavor of BRICS countries to contribute positively to the world economy, especially during the difficult times occasioned by the pandemic.

For the 2022 Summit, the member nations, represented by their respective heads of state or government—President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Xi Jinping of China, and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa—converged digitally to deliberate on a wide array of significant subjects.

Key discussion points included strategies for post-pandemic economic recovery, strengthening cooperation in various sectors such as trade, investment, healthcare, and digital technology, and addressing the challenges posed by the changing global landscape. The leaders also explored policies and measures to enhance resilient supply chains, a priority that gained tremendous significance in light of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the summit addressed the topic of reforming multilateral systems, including institutions like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank, to be more representative of the current global economic and political balance. The BRICS nations sought to emphasize their role in global governance and their intention to push for a fairer system that took into account the voice of emerging economies.

At the conclusion of the summit, the Beijing Declaration was adopted, encapsulating the vision and joint commitments of the BRICS countries. This document typically highlights consolidated positions on diverse issues, reinforces the importance of ongoing cooperation, and enumerates agreed-upon action points aimed at fostering a collaborative approach to addressing global challenges.

The 2022 virtual summit of BRICS in Beijing underscored the flexibility and adaptability of the BRICS mechanism to continue meaningful engagement even amidst the complexities of the pandemic, reaffirming the enduring commitment of its member nations to strengthen partnerships and work collectively for a more equitable and prosperous future.