Chinese President Xi Jinping Set to Embark on State Visit to South Africa and Attend Brics Summit.
South African officials have confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing for a significant journey to South Africa next week. In addition to his state visit, he will also participate in the Brics summit. Brics stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—a grouping often considered as an alternative to the G7 association of developed nations.
This marks President Xi’s second international trip this year, following his official state visit to Russia in March. As Brics leaders gear up for their upcoming meeting, discussions will include deliberations about the potential expansion of the group’s membership. Several African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia, have previously expressed interest in joining this coalition.
While there were uncertainties regarding the personal attendance of Russia’s president at the summit, South Africa’s presidency later confirmed his absence. This decision relates to concerns that if President Putin left Russian territory, he might face an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to the situation in Ukraine. Notably, South Africa is an ICC signatory and thus bound to cooperate in matters of potential arrest.
Stay tuned for more updates as this significant event unfolds!
