World markets experienced some relief as the bond squeeze eased, with investors eagerly awaiting signals from the Federal Reserve conference in Jackson Hole and hopeful for a resurgence of the early-year AI craze. President Xi Jinping's attendance at the BRICS summit in South Africa also provided some positivity for China's economy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support for the expansion of BRICS membership, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the process to be accelerated, potentially boosting the group's global influence and countering the dominance of the Group of Seven. Several nations have shown interest in joining, with China taking the lead in pushing for expansion. However, India has advocated for a cautious approach due to concerns that the bloc may become influenced by its neighbor.
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the BRICS leaders' summit in South Africa that the group is inviting six countries to join and also launching a $10 billion special fund to bolster global development, emphasizing the expansion's vitality for cooperation and the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries.
Billionaire Ray Dalio sees India as a promising investment opportunity due to its recent successful moon landing and projected 7% growth rate, describing it as having the right potential and leadership for growth similar to China in the 1980s. Dalio believes Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has the capacity to influence the world order. On the other hand, Dalio has become less optimistic about China and suggests a massive debt restructuring is needed. Other notable figures, such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Goldman Sachs, also express confidence in India's economic prospects.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that there is a risk of a "new model of colonialism" if nations with critical minerals do not see it as a global responsibility, as the race to secure resources for energy transition goals intensifies. Modi emphasized the need for cooperation in the face of uneven geographical diversification and export restrictions imposed by countries like China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of mutual trust and democratic values as he called for investments in India and voiced concerns about disruptions in the supply chain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, indirectly criticizing China and cautioning against a new model of colonialism and the need for a global framework for cryptocurrency and ethical artificial intelligence.
India's adversarial relationship with China and its moves to block imports and investment from China could complicate its involvement in BRICS, as China seeks to expand the group and use it as a platform to challenge Western dominance.
The absence of President Xi Jinping from the G20 summit and the expansion of the Brics bloc highlight the declining interest of non-Western powers in Western-led institutions, signaling a shift towards alternative economic and financial arrangements.
China's economic challenges, including debt, unfavorable demographics, and a stagnating growth rate, have implications for global trade and the ambitions of President Xi Jinping, potentially leading to unforeseen consequences and strategic shifts.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the leaders of heavily indebted nations, Zambia and Venezuela, for state visits to China, prioritizing bilateral diplomacy over participation in the G-20 summit in India, symbolizing China's preference for conducting diplomacy on its home soil or within groups where it holds more influence.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's attendance at the recent G20 summit in India, along with its inclusion in the China-dominated BRICS coalition and signing of the ship-to-rail economic corridor supported by President Joe Biden, highlights the complex web of alliances and economic opportunities arising from the rivalry between the US and China. These developments show the various economies caught between the two powers seeking to build their own strategic alliances and spheres of influence.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/QTWPTTB5VJKPNFNK6JNZAEHRFY.jpg)