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Xi Jinping to Attend BRICS Summit During State Visit to South Africa

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9 months ago

August 18, 2023

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will attend the BRICS summit. Africa has become a diplomatic arena. It is attracting attention from the West, Russia, and China. According to News18, they all compete for influence to secure access to crucial minerals and navigate international divisions, including those stemming from the Ukraine conflict.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “At the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President Xi Jinping will attend the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and pay a state visit to South Africa from August 21 to 24.”

This visit is Xi’s second international journey in 2023 after his official state visit to Russia in March. The summit will occur from August 22-24. It will bring together the leaders of Brazil, China, India, South Africa and Russia’s top diplomat. This year’s summit theme is “BRICS and Africa,” as highlighted by South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor earlier this month.

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Amid speculation about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attendance, given his legal issues with the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to the Ukraine conflict, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson clarified that Putin would not attend “by mutual agreement.”

The summit’s agenda encompasses discussions on the potential expansion of BRICS membership. Several African nations, including Algeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia, aspire to join the bloc. In July, China welcomed Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Beijing, a visit underscoring China’s support for Algeria’s intentions to join the BRICS.

69 countries, including all African states, have been invited to the South African summit. BRICS, an informal coalition aimed at counterbalancing Western economic dominance, comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The group’s openness to expansion suggests a dynamic approach to reshaping global economic and diplomatic interactions.

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