A League of Their Own: BRICS Nations Plan Unified Future

Five emerging powers met to discuss pressing world issues.

BRICS Summit Lays Road to Progress - Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, aka BRICS, five of the world’s emerging economic powers, met Thursday, March 29, in New Delhi for a one-day summit to discuss mutual trade interests, pressure Western nations for international monetary reforms and call for an end to the violence in Syria.The nations came together as a group to raise the international profile of their countries after being left out of previous global summits open only to Western superpowers, such as the G8, which represents the governments of eight of the world's largest economies, or Group of Eight.(Photo: Mohd Zakir/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

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BRICS Summit Lays Road to Progress - Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, aka BRICS, five of the world’s emerging economic powers, met Thursday, March 29, in New Delhi for a one-day summit to discuss mutual trade interests, pressure Western nations for international monetary reforms and call for an end to the violence in Syria.The nations came together as a group to raise the international profile of their countries after being left out of previous global summits open only to Western superpowers, such as the G8, which represents the governments of eight of the world's largest economies, or Group of Eight.(Photo: Mohd Zakir/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

BRICS Nations Band Together for Change - Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, aka BRICS, five of the world’s emerging economic powers, met last week in New Delhi for a one-day summit to discuss mutual trade interests, pressure Western nations for international monetary reforms and call for an end to the violence in Syria.(Photo: Naveen Jora/India Today Group/Getty Images)

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BRICS Represent the World - As of 2012, the population of BRICS countries make up almost half the world, and together, the countries boast a combined nominal GDP of $13.6 trillion and an estimated $4 trillion in combined foreign reserves.(Photo: Naveen Jora/India Today Group/Getty Images)

Zuma Saddened - Thirteen South African soldiers were killed and 27 others wounded in the fighting between rebels and government troops as Seleka battled for the capital. South African President Jacob Zuma sent the force to the Central African Republic to help Bozizé’s forces stave off the rebels. (Photo: Graham Crouch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Africa Respected Among BRICS - South African President Jacob Zuma spoke out during the summit about how he feels an unrivaled camaraderie and respect among the BRICS delegates."In BRICS, we have a place where we feel that Africa is being treated with respect. Our views are treated equally among the partners. There is no feeling that some people are looking down on the continent of Africa," Zuma said.South Africa was added to the bloc in 2010.(Photo: Graham Crouch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil - Brazilian and U.S. relations were strong until NSA and Brazilian spying rumors made headlines in 2013. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff blasted the U.S. for “violating human rights and international law” and called off an October 2013 visit to the United States. Perhaps a State Dinner could help to repair the severed relationship.(Photo: Graham Crouch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Brazil Eyes Big Break Within BRICS - “Being part of the BRICS is very important because the BRICS concept has geopolitical implications. It’s seen as a potential threat to the established powers…so now that Brazil has this BRICS alliance, Brazil is suddenly seen as a much more important actor from the European and American perspective,” Oliver Stuenkel, of Brazil, a BRICS delegate, told Al Jazeera.Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is pictured above.(Photo: Graham Crouch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

BRICS a Force for Peace - Ahead of this year’s summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao pressed the importance of regarding emerging markets and developing countries as an important force in promoting world peace and development."These countries form an important part of common development of the world, which is conducive to a more balanced world economy, more reasonable international relations, more effective global governance and more durable world peace,” he said, according to Business Day.(Photo: Graham Crouch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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BRICS a Force for Peace - Ahead of this year’s summit, Chinese President Hu Jintao pressed the importance of regarding emerging markets and developing countries as an important force in promoting world peace and development."These countries form an important part of common development of the world, which is conducive to a more balanced world economy, more reasonable international relations, more effective global governance and more durable world peace,” he said, according to Business Day.(Photo: Graham Crouch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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More Trouble in Tibet - Despite the summit’s overall theme of goodwill as expressed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, anti-Hu Tibetan protesters made a splash at the meetings, bringing global attention to the plight of the thousands of Tibetans who seek freedom from Chinese rule and many of whom have been living in exile.One demonstrator, who set fire to his body in a show of protest, died Wednesday in a New Delhi hospital.(Photo: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)

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More Trouble in Tibet - Despite the summit’s overall theme of goodwill as expressed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, anti-Hu Tibetan protesters made a splash at the meetings, bringing global attention to the plight of the thousands of Tibetans who seek freedom from Chinese rule and many of whom have been living in exile.One demonstrator, who set fire to his body in a show of protest, died Wednesday in a New Delhi hospital.(Photo: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)

United Bank of BRICS? - On the agenda for the high-profile meeting was the possible creation of an international development bank among BRICS nations that could possibly rival the World Bank.Although there was no final word on how or when such a development would occur, the leaders "agreed to examine in greater detail a proposal to set up a BRICS-led South-South Development Bank, funded and managed by the BRICS and other developing countries," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India.(Photo: PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)

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United Bank of BRICS? - On the agenda for the high-profile meeting was the possible creation of an international development bank among BRICS nations that could possibly rival the World Bank.Although there was no final word on how or when such a development would occur, the leaders "agreed to examine in greater detail a proposal to set up a BRICS-led South-South Development Bank, funded and managed by the BRICS and other developing countries," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India.(Photo: PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)