BRICS summit 2023
Latest: Consult Johannesburg BRICS Declaration
The 15th summit of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) group of major emerging economies is set to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 22-24 August 2023. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to attend in person, while Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate virtually.
Leaders will convene to deliberate on various global geopolitical matters, trade dynamics, and infrastructure development and explore avenues for enhancing both diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Key themes of the upcoming summit are the following:
1. Expansion: The summit grapples with the question of how to expand the BRICS alliance, considering over 40 countries expressing interest. Leaders aim to balance inclusivity and preserving the group’s core principles.
2. Strengthening the BRICS Bank: The summit will delve into innovative strategies for enhancing local currency fundraising and lending within the New Development Bank (NDB), known as the BRICS bank, including the exploration of alternative currencies to mitigate the risks of foreign exchange fluctuations.
3. Economic cooperation: The leaders will also focus on improving economic ties between their diverse economies, engaging in discussions on trade, investment opportunities, energy cooperation, infrastructure development, the digital economy, and the job market. Additionally, the summit will include talks with leaders from other countries, with invitations extended to 67 leaders from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean.
4. Global Outreach: The last day of the summit is expected to focus on talks with leaders from other countries. Invitations to attend the summit were extended to 67 leaders across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean.
5. Focus on Africa: The theme, ‘BRICS and Africa,’ explores the relationship between BRICS nations and African countries. The summit seeks to enhance cooperation within the African Continental Free Trade Area for economic growth and shared prosperity.