Xi, Putin and other leaders locked in discussions over an expansion of the BRICS economic bloc
The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have held closed-door discussions on the possible expansion of their BRICS economic bloc
JOHANNESBURG — The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa held closed-door discussions Wednesday on the possible expansion of their BRICS economic bloc, a move they've framed as a way to amplify the voice of developing nations, but which also serves the geopolitical interests of Beijing and Moscow.
A decision on whether to accept new members had been expected late Wednesday, the second day of a three-day BRICS summit in Johannesburg. But officials said that was looking unlikely and a declaration might be made on Thursday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met at a conference center in the Sandton financial district in South Africa's biggest city.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who did not travel to the summit after being issued an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, joined via video link from Moscow. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was in Johannesburg to represent Russia.
South Africa's Ramaphosa said all five leaders backed the principle of expansion.
“We stand at the cusp of expanding the BRICS family, because it is through this expansion that we will be able to have a much stronger BRICS in these turbulent times that we live in,” Ramaphosa said.
More than 20 countries have applied to join BRICS, which was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009, and added South Africa in 2010.
Saudi Arabia is among the nations seeking membership, raising the possibility of the oil giant moving a little closer to China and
Read more on abcnews.go.com
