Current Status and Prospects for Digital Economy Cooperation among BRICS Countries

金砖国家数字经济合作现状与前景

Amid the current evolving global political and economic landscape, the digital economy has achieved a positive momentum in BRICS countries. Emerging technologies ranging from big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things to artificial intelligence(AI) have maintained a dynamic development. New phenomena such as “new retail” and “new manufacturing” are persistently changing people's daily lives and gradually influencing human values and notions in social governance. BRICS countries have accelerated the innovation and development of the digital economy by constantly improving relevant cooperation mechanisms. “Digital BRICS” has already become an important force to promote world economic growth and enhance the reform of the global economic governance system. The development of the digital economy per se has unique characteristics. Thus, BRICS countries are faced with practical challenges in deepening cooperation. Particularly, they must reconsider the national security risks created by the transnational diffusion of technologies and the implications for the international order stemming from the excessive expansion of the power of digital giants. BRICS countries can continue to bridge differences and divergences among each other by strengthening functional cooperation in joint efforts to create greater room for shared digital benefits and open up a new future for the digital economy characterized by harmony, cooperation, and coexistence.