Today, the rise of emerging economies, especially that of the BRICS countries, has attracted worldwide attention. The overall economic growth of these countries is much higher than the global average - twice that of the developed economies. Over the past 10 years, the BRICS' contribution to global economic growth has exceeded 50%. This growth provokes the question: How can the developing and developed countries coexist with each other? The answer relates to the reconstruction of the world order in 21st century.

President Xi Jinping is in Brazil to participate in the 6th BRICS Summit. The 2014 Summit's debates focused on the theme "BRICS – inclusive growth: sustainable solutions". The summit was hosted by Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Jacob Zuma exchanged views on cooperation between the BRICS and other international and regional issues of mutual interest. After the Summit, the Universal Declaration of Fortaleza was published. From the first summit in June 2009, the mechanism of BRICS has achieved great results. At this summit, leaders took an important decision to create the BRICS Development Bank and set a contingency reserve in order to build a financial safety net for BRICS.

In response to the ongoing development and strengthening of the BRICS countries, some Western media have expressed concern and frustration, believing that the rise of the BRICS will lead to the decline of the West. They think that the BRICS, which they accuse of "piggybacking", should take on more responsibility. In the face of the steady growth of these countries and their increasing role and influence in the international stage, western countries are defensive about the rise of the BRICS, as they are afraid of seeing their own interests lose out.

The BRICS countries are calling for changes in the international economic and financial order, strengthening the voice of developing countries. The economic vitality of the G20 is partly ensured by the participation of developing countries, including BRICS countries. Although the G20 leaders have previously agreed that the share of developing countries in the IMF will increase by at least 5%, and the voting rights in the World Bank increased by at least 3%, these commitments have not yet been honored.

In order to maintain its dominant position, the West tries to exclude the BRICS group from the formulation of new rules of the global economy. In the two current trade negotiations led by the West and the U.S. – the "Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement" (TPP) and the "Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement" (TTIP) - the BRICS countries play no part.

Despite this, members of the BRICS are taking a more active part in global affairs, pressing for international cooperation and the opportunity to share responsibility for tackling global challenges such as climate change, pollution, and food safety. They have become a new force in global governance. The number of peacekeeping troops provided to the UN by the BRICS is six times that of the G7. This is a clear indication that the BRICS are protectors of peace and stability, as well as a positive force in global governance.

The author, Ruan Zongze, is the researcher and vice-president in China Institute of International Studies 

This article is edited and translated from 西方不应零和心态看金砖崛起, Source: People's Daily