Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Source: TASS)

Leaders from the five BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – are set to meet in Johannesburg from August 22 to discuss how to turn the group of nations that account for a quarter of the global economy into a powerful geopolitical force capable of balancing the West.

Among them, Russian President Vladimir Putin - who is facing an international arrest warrant for his military campaign in Ukraine - will speak online.

At this summit, the host country South Africa has invited a total of 69 countries, including all African countries. In particular, membership expansion will be a priority on the BRICS agenda, as up to 40 countries have expressed interest in participating, both formally and informally, including Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Egypt.

China, keen to expand its geopolitical influence, asserted that Beijing “welcomes more like-minded partners to join BRICS at the earliest possible time.”

Besides attending the BRICS meeting, President Xi Jinping will co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, as part of his official visit to the country.

In 2018, Xi Jinping visited South Africa to strengthen China's diplomatic and economic ties with Africa. This visit to South Africa will be the Chinese leader's second international trip in 2023, following an official state visit to Russia in March.