BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhuanet) -- A signed article titled "How CIIE and New Silk Road Anchor the Future of BRICS, SCO, and Emerging Economies" by Purnima Anand, president of the BRICS International Forum, was published Friday on Xinhuanet.
The following is the full text of the article:
How CIIE and New Silk Road Anchor the Future of BRICS, SCO, and Emerging Economies
Purnima Anand
President of the BRICS International Forum
In 2026, the global economic landscape stands at a critical crossroads. The international community has witnessed growing frictions of "decoupling" manifest in soaring tariff barriers, unilateral technology blockades, and restrictive financial sanctions. As established powers increasingly retreat behind protectionist walls, a quiet yet profound countercurrent is gaining momentum. It is a paradigm shift driven not by isolation, but by a collective determination across the Global South to build a more equitable, resilient, and multi-polar economic order.
Amid these shifts, one premier golden gateway opens consistently every autumn. From November 5 to 10, 2026, the 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The event has already secured participation from over 1,000 enterprises representing more than 90 nations and regions. The CIIE is far more than a conventional trade fair -- it is the world's first national-level expo dedicated exclusively to imports. It stands as a deliberate, proactive institutional arrangement designed to open China's domestic market to the world, turning China's immense consumer base into a shared global resource.
FROM VISION TO ACTION
In 2026, India officially assumed the rotating chairmanship of the BRICS under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."
At the same time, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), member states are actively exploring stable export platforms that are not dominated by third parties and can directly connect with consumer markets. Zhanel Kushukova, vice minister of trade and integration of Kazakhstan, stated at the Kazakhstan thematic event "Big Market for All: Export to China" that her country attaches high importance to export cooperation with China, and that the CIIE has built a vital bridge for Kazakhstan-China trade and economic cooperation. Numerous Kazakh enterprises have found Chinese partners at previous editions of the CIIE and reaped fruitful results.
The CIIE is not merely a marketplace, but also a powerful platform where shared development aspirations of the BRICS, the SCO, and rising economies are transformed into tangible economic results. Brazil, with its forward-looking emphasis on cutting-edge agri-business, green technology, and sustainable aviation, views the expo as a prime accelerator for high-value exports. South Africa, acting as a vital industrial bridge for the African continent, leverages the platform to integrate regional manufacturing into global value chains.
NEW SILK ROAD
At the heart of this vision lies the seamless integration between the CIIE and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The new Silk Road today is no longer just a network of physical infrastructure. It is a dynamic digital, financial, and commercial network designed to unlock unprecedented business and development opportunities.
Through highly optimized maritime routes, continental freight rails, and streamlined customs frameworks, the BRI systematically lowers the access barriers for emerging markets. The CIIE provides access to the Chinese market through these corridors. For a business community looking to diversify its supply chains and mitigate risks, this modern trade route provides direct, unhindered access to high-growth sectors. It enables the seamless flow of smart industries, smart mobility solutions, abundant agricultural products, and cross-border services from the heart of the Global South straight to the forefront of global demand.
VALUE OF CERTAINTY
Trust and friendship are the foundation of cooperation. In a volatile global economy, trust cannot survive on rhetoric alone. It requires structural certainty, including predictable timelines, fixed venues, and transparent matchmaking mechanisms. The CIIE has delivered precisely this for nearly a decade. Since its inaugural edition in 2018, the expo has facilitated a staggering cumulative intended transaction volume of over 580 billion U.S. dollars, with the 8th edition alone securing 83.49 billion U.S. dollars in mid-term agreements.
By ensuring this absolute institutional predictability year after year, the CIIE eliminates market anxiety. This certainty gives corporate boards, sovereign wealth funds, and industrial conglomerates across the BRICS and the SCO member states the confidence to invest in long-term production, expand logistics capacity, and forge joint ventures.
A HISTORIC INVITATION
True economic resilience is ultimately sustained by mutual understanding. In addition to its state-of-the-art commercial zones, the 9th CIIE features a dedicated cultural exchange segment, ensuring that trade remains rooted in mutual respect. When diverse civilizations showcase their innovations and heritage under one roof, they build the foundational goodwill required for trade pacts.
As the iconic "four-leaf clover" exhibition hall prepares to open its doors this November, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved when nations choose cooperation over division. We extend a sincere invitation to the trade communities, innovators, and visionary leaders of the BRICS, the SCO, and the emerging economies: come to Shanghai, seize the extraordinary opportunities presented by the BRI, and together sketch the blueprint for a shared, prosperous future.
Borders may define the geography of our nations, but shared trust designs the map of our future. When we build bridges of commerce instead of walls of division, we do not merely exchange goods; we harvest the collective dreams of humanity, ensuring that prosperity flows as freely as the rivers that connect us all.
