Journey shall be Xi’s second abroad go to of 2023 and comes as China makes an attempt to increase its geopolitical affect.
China’s President Xi Jinping will attend the summit of BRICS leaders in South Africa as he makes a state go to to the nation subsequent week.
“On the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President Xi Jinping will attend the fifteenth BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and pay a state go to to South Africa from August 21 to 24,” international ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying mentioned in an internet assertion.
The go to shall be Xi’s second worldwide journey of 2023, after he travelled to Russia in March. The Chinese language president beforehand visited South Africa in 2018 as he sought to reinforce his nation’s diplomatic and financial ties in Africa.
The 5 BRICS international locations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will meet in Johannesburg subsequent week to debate the way to flip a free membership of countries accounting for 1 / 4 of the worldwide economic system right into a geopolitical drive that may problem the developed world’s dominance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces a world arrest warrant over alleged struggle crimes in Ukraine, will participate by video somewhat than attending in particular person.
A complete of 69 international locations have been invited to the summit in South Africa, together with all African states, and enlargement is predicted to be excessive on the agenda. Nations together with Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Ethiopia have proven curiosity in becoming a member of the group both formally or informally.
China, looking for to increase its geopolitical affect amid its ongoing rivalry with the US, has mentioned it “welcomes extra like-minded companions to hitch the ‘BRICS household’ at an early date”.
Russia additionally helps enlargement, whereas Brazil has resisted, fearing it may undermine the group’s stature. India is on the fence.
The time period BRIC was first coined by a Goldman Sachs economist to explain the rise of Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2001. These international locations had their first summit in 2009 in Russia, and when South Africa joined the next yr, the group grew to become referred to as BRICS.
BRICS international locations account for greater than 40 p.c of the world’s inhabitants and about 26 p.c of the worldwide economic system.
Apart from attending the BRICS assembly, Xi will even cochair the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue along with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, the Chinese language international ministry mentioned.
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