The BRICS no longer want to show themselves to the world as five developing countries, but want to be on an equal footing with the United States and the European Union.

And it is that Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa ask that they be taken seriously in the new bipolar order, also marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine: the states, meeting these days in Johannesburg, consider that their economic potential is more enough not to be on a second step.

“The changes that have taken place in the BRICS economies over the past decade have gone a long way in transforming the shape of the global economy,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is holding the presidency.

In another era, these five countries were on a kind of waiting list against the great powers, but the scenario has changed, especially for China.

Beijing not only sets the pace for this group, but has also become a world engine, especially at a technological level.

“Together, the BRICS countries represent a quarter of the world economy, constitute a fifth of world trade and are home to more than forty percent of the world’s population,” said the

South African president, who also indicated that the collaboration between governments goes beyond “strengthening relations between governments”.

Likewise, the Brazilian leader, Lula da Silva, has come to ask at the summit “the use of a reference currency” to promote commercial relations.

The BRICS, however, coincide in having a different vision of the war in Ukraine, especially since they have Russia in it: they look from the equidistance to the anger of the Western bloc, to which they present themselves as a “counterweight”.

The conflict has remained in the background, but South Africa and China have found space to issue a joint statement.

“The parties agreed that dialogue and negotiation are the only feasible way out to resolve the Ukrainian crisis and they will insist on promoting peace and talks to play a constructive role in the political solution of the issue,” they explained, again representing the position of the Asian giant, which continues to be viewed with suspicion by Washington and Brussels.

In this sense, Xi Jinping and Ramaphosa have agreed to “continue to strengthen cooperation in international affairs and multilateral institutions, and jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core”, relying on International Law, safeguarding the rights and interests of developing countries” and respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The tone is almost always the same for these countries, in a meeting also marked by the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has delegated his Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.

Brazil, for its part, believes that the time has come for greater economic integration in the group, precisely to compete with Western players.

Thus, Lula da Silva has urged “the adoption of a reference unit of account for trade between the BRICS countries that will not replace our national currencies”.

And he gave as an example of this “progress” the New Development Bank (NBD), which was established seven years ago, with “positive” results in the eyes of the five states.

“The New Development Bank already represents a milestone in effective collaboration between emerging economies and is expected to be the world leader in financing projects that address the most pressing challenges of our time,” Lula concluded.