It began as a technical grouping in 2001, when the British economist Jim O’Neill lumped them together (without South Africa) and gave them their catchy name for the sole reason that they were all large, rapidly growing emerging economies. But, recognizing that economic power could translate into political influence, the BRICS held their first informal meeting in 2006, and their first leaders’ summit in 2009.
金砖国家的故事非常熟悉。2001年其最早以技术分类的形式出现，英国经济学家吉姆·奥尼尔把上述国家（不包括南非）集中起来，并因为它们都是快速发展的新兴经济体而起了这个朗朗上口的名字。但金砖国家认识到经济实力可以转化为政治影响，于是在2006年召开了首次非正式会议，并在2009年召开了首次领导人峰会。