Chinese President Xi Jinping to Lead BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Discusses Expansion of Member Nations

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the summit of the BRICS nations in Johannesburg next week, followed by a state visit to South Africa, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. During his visit to South Africa, President Xi will co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa.

The BRICS nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, and China, were originally founded to link the interests of emerging economies but have since expanded into other fields.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the summit in person due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, making him the only leader of a country in the bloc not attending. However, he has indicated that he will participate via video link.

The summit is seen as an opportunity for the bloc to gain new relevance in light of various challenges such as Russia's war in Ukraine, South Africa's struggling economy, and increasing competition between China and India. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva supports more countries joining the group and intends to raise the issue at the summit.

Around 20 countries, including Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran, and Venezuela, have formally applied to join the BRICS group. China and Russia, facing isolation from the U.S. and European Union, have been seeking to expand their economic influence in developing countries.

Through the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, also known as the BRICS bank, China is financing infrastructure projects in Brazil and other developing nations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China looks forward to working with South Africa to pursue development and make a positive contribution to a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations.

This year's Johannesburg summit will also address the possible expansion of BRICS membership, with several African countries expressing interest in joining the bloc.