BRICS Meeting Attracts Global Interest Not Seen in Years
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The leaders from the five-member group of nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — are discussing expanding the club, which harbors ambitions of becoming a geopolitical alternative to Western-led forums.
China’s leader, Xi Jinping, held a state visit with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in Pretoria and was then expected to travel to Johannesburg for the summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India arrived in Johannesburg in the afternoon, The Times of India reported. President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia appeared virtually, to avoid an international arrest warrant for crimes against humanity committed during the war in Ukraine.
Mr. Xi met with Mr. Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings, the seat of the presidency in the administrative capital Pretoria. In the formal visit, Mr. Xi inspected an honor guard and shook hands with a row of cabinet ministers as cannon fire rang out, announcing the official visit. The two leaders held a short news conference afterward, reiterating their longstanding political and economic ties, but took no questions.
