Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in a second foreign trip of 2023
By Daily Tab24. Updated: 9:17 am. Aug 18, 2023.
“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” disclosed in an online statement by foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
After the failure of BRICS to invite Putin to their summit, President Xi Jinping is another figure capable of raising the stake of the five countries of BRICS. The countries of BRICS, South Africa, Russia, India, China and Brazil, have been seeking to stamp their authority on the global economy, which has been missing.
War in Ukraine restrained the physical presence of Russian President and a complex issuance of warrant of arrest by International Criminal Court over Putin’s war in Ukraine. South Africa which is signatory to UN statute to arrest anyone declared wanted by ICC was pressured to effect arrest of Putin should he come into South Africa.
Putin avoided the meeting; but the presence of Xi would show the much needed commitment BRICS long for to make a mark as a bloc with significant influence. With the influence of BRICS, which accounts for quarter of the world’s economy have failed to live up to expectation.
The visit by Xi Jinping is the second of his 2023 foreign trips. His first was a trip to another BRICS member country, Russia in March. The last time Xi visited South Africa was in 2018. The visits are important to cement Chinese influence around the world. Africa is important to China in terms of economic edge and more visits will happen in future to strengthen economic ties.
By video, Putin would join the meeting and expected to continue from the objective that triggered the meeting held in Russia with African countries. Russia’s interest in Africa is growing tremendously, with economic and strategic military ties being strengthened profoundly.
69 countries were invited to the summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, with all African countries expected to attend. BRICS are targeting a broader bloc to enable them maximized influence in the world economy and to be able to rival the likes of NATO and Western economies or economic blocs.
The broader objective is to woo more countries to join BRICS and knowing the importance of numbers, China has opened the door for more members. Russia is always open for a strengthening; knowing that rivalry with United States and West needs expansion elsewhere.
Brazil and India have more friendly relationship with US and other Western countries and would not boldly embrace the idea of expansion when it focuses on weakening the West or United States. BRICS already have influence but a wider influence is the intention of China and Russia.
President Xi will also use this opportunity of the visit to head a talk with all African states to strengthen Chinese economic ties and diplomatic gains in the continent of host. South Africa will lead the way for China.
