China's President Xi Jinping is set to make a significant diplomatic foray by attending the upcoming BRICS leaders' meeting and embarking on a state visit to South Africa from August 21 to 24, as announced by the Chinese foreign ministry in a statement released on August 18.
The BRICS summit, scheduled from August 22, will see leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa congregating in Johannesburg to deliberate on strategies aimed at elevating the group's status from a loose association of nations accounting for a quarter of the global economy into a formidable geopolitical entity capable of challenging Western dominance on the world stage.
A notable absentee from the physical gathering will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been grappling with international scrutiny due to allegations of war crimes related to the Ukraine conflict. Instead of attending in person, Putin will participate via video call, marking a unique turn of events for the BRICS summit.
The expansion of the BRICS coalition is expected to be a primary focus of the discussions. Approximately 40 nations, both formally and informally, have expressed their interest in joining the group, as per insights shared by South African officials. Among the countries considering participation are Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and Egypt.
In addition to his participation in the BRICS summit, President Xi is poised to co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. This dialogue underscores China's enduring engagement with the African continent, further solidifying economic and diplomatic ties.
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