Xi to attend Brics summit in South Africa next week
President Xi Jinping will attend the Brics leaders' summit and visit South Africa next week, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. The influential club of Brics emerging economies, formed in 2009, is home to more than 40 percent of the global population and accounts for nearly a quarter of the world's gross domestic product. Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will gather in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24, where they will discuss issues such as potential expansion and the use of local currencies in trade between member states. A total of 69 countries have been invited to the summit, including all African states.   Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, will join via a video link instead of in person.  South Africa said some 40 nations have shown an interest in joining the bloc, including Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Egypt. Beijing has said it "welcomes more like-minded partners to join the 'Brics family' at an early date", while Moscow also supports expansion. Xi will also co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, the ministry added. (AFP/Reuters)