LIVE BLOG: 15th BRICS Summit kicks off at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg
The 15th BRICS Summit kicks off at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday.
The summit which will be hosted from Tuesday, August 22, and is expected to be attended by over 40 heads of state, scores of government representatives, as well as local and international dignitaries and summit delegates.
Follow IOL’s coverage of the summit.
LIVE VIDEO STREAM
VIDEO STREAM: Courtesy of the SABC
BRICS leaders deliver opening remarks
Eswatini not invited to BRICS Summit
The Kingdom of eSwatini has confirmed that King Mswati III is not attending the 15th BRICS Summit which began in Sandton, Johannesburg, after they did not receive an invite from Pretoria.
eSwatini government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo told The Star they had received no invitation to attend the BRICS Summit, which is running with the theme
More than 40 African heads of state have been invited.
Patrice Motsepe urges Africa to forge beneficial partnerships with BRICS countries
Patrice Motsepe has urged African leaders and businesses to forge meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships with BRICS countries.
Motsepe, who is the inaugural chairperson of the BRICS Business Charter in South Africa, said mutual partnerships and benefits were at the centre economic development among BRICS countries.
Political stability is critical for trade in Africa
Political instability in a number of African countries remains a major concern as the BRICS nations look to unlock opportunities through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
AfCFTA secretary general Wamkele Mene raised the point that political stability was an essential feature in establishing market certainty and predictability.
During one of the panel discussions at the BRICS Business Forum in Sandton, Johannesburg, panellists discussed ways to build a partnership between BRICS nations and the rest of Africa for mutually beneficial opportunities for increased trade, investment, and infrastructure development.
Mantashe calls on SA to learn from Brazil on how coalitions work
ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe says the governing party has drawn important lessons from Brazil’s Workers Party, which is led by President Lula da Silva, on how to deal with and make coalition governments work.
The ANC and the Worker’s Party met at the Leonardo Hotel on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in South Africa
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has welcomed India’s Prime Minister has landed in Pretoria ahead of 15th BRICS Summit. Modi is expected to head straight to the Brics Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Modi was welcomed in traditional song and dance, similar to Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrived on Monday night at the OR Tambo International Airport.
Ethiopian group protesting outside summit over alleged human rights abuses in Amhara
The All United Amhara Association in South Africa has called on BRICS countries to stop the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed from allegedly killing thousands of innocent people in their country.
The group picketed at Innesfree Park in Sandton a few kilometres away from the Sandton Convention Centre where the BRICS summit is taking place on Tuesday.
They held placards that read: "Abiy Ahmed does not fit for peace awards” and “Under Abiy administration Ethiopia Collapse” to indicate their issues.
BRICS expansion, food security, health and cooperation likely to top 15th Summit agenda - analysts
It was a mark of China’s increasing influence on South Africa which saw President Xi Jinping receive a grand reception at the OR Tambo International Airport, say geo-political experts.
Wits University’s Patrick Lukusa Kadima, who specialises in international law, international cooperation and multilateralism, said BRICS expansion was likely the biggest issue on the table for the summit.
WATCH: Ramaphosa bestows Xi Jinping with SA’s highest order
President Cyril Ramaphosa has bestowed Chinese President Xi Ping with the Order of South Africa, for “his great service to the people of South Africa”. He was bestowed with the Order at the Union Buildings in Pretoria ahead of the 15th BRICS Summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.
A Chinese delegation led by President Xi Jinping held a State Visit to Pretoria before the commencement of the summit on Tuesday.
President Xi Jinping, who was on his fourth State Visit to SA, has overseen strengthened relations between China and SA, with the trade rocketing from just under R1 billion 30 years ago, to over R600 billion today. China is SA’s biggest trade partner.
WATCH:
WATCH: ANC meets with Brazil’s governing Workers Party
The African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe have led a delegation from the governing party as they met with Brazil’s Workers Party, which was led by Brazilian President Lula Da Silva.
The delegation met at the Leonardo Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, just hours before the BRICS Summit was officially opened. The Summit is taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from Tuesday afternoon.
Briefing the media after the meeting, where the ANC and Worker’s Party aimed to strengthen political ties, Mantashe said: “The point of poverty, unemployment formed part of the discussion during this meeting”.
Mbalula added: “We briefed Da Silva about the BRICS Plus dialogue and some of the important resolutions that we took.
The ANC delegation led by National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe, have concluded their meeting with President Lula Da Silva of Brazil. He says the meeting addressed issues of coalitions, poverty and unemployment. @IOL #BRICSza #BRICSSummit pic.twitter.com/4hZaPTtdmP
— Kamogelo Vega (@Kamogelo_Vegaa) August 22, 2023
WATCH:
Xi state visit: President Cyril Ramaphosa lauds China for helping SA rebuild from ruins of Apartheid
People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping received a warm welcome at Pretoria's Union Buildings on Tuesday ahead of his talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Xi inspected the guard of hour as well as the 21-gun salute before engaging with Ramaphosa for bilateral talks.
This is Xi’s fourth state visit to SA. During the talks, Ramaphosa said South Africa's diplomatic relations with China spans a period of 25 years and that the Asian country has been instrumental in assisting SA with its development from the ruins of Apartheid.
LOOK: President of the People’s Republic of China meets with President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of 15th BRICS Summit
Russia’s Sergey Lavrov touches down in SA to attend BRICS summit
Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in South Africa on Tuesday to attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
Read the full story here.
–
LOOK: ANC officials to meet with Brazil’s President Lula da Silva
–
Today, 22 August 2023, the ANC delegation led by ANC National Chairperson, Comrade Gwede Mantashe, met with President Lula Da Silva of Brazil, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit 22 – 24 August 2023.#BRICSSummit2023 pic.twitter.com/zWmeGy7Acs
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Cde Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) August 22, 2023
–
WATCH: BRICS to weigh expansion plans to include more nations
–
Xi Jinping to meet Ramaphosa at Union Buildings for South African state visit
People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping is expected to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa for his state visit at the Union Buildings on Tuesday morning.
The Communist Party of China leader arrived on Monday night and landed at OR Tambo International Airport where and was welcomed by Ramaphosa, International Relation and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor as well as ministers in the presidency.
This marks the fourth state visit by Xi.
Read the full story here.
–
WATCH: World leaders arrive in Johannesburg for 15th BRICS Summit
–
Fun things for BRICS Summit delegates to do in and around Joburg
Johannesburg is currently buzzing with world leaders attending the 15th BRICS Summit aimed at strengthening the trade bloc.
Up to 46 heads of state, including African leaders have already arrived in the City of Gold.
If they are looking to catch a break from trade talk, there are plenty of fun activities around the city that one can do.
Read the full story here.
–
Three things that can make the BRICS currency feasible according to industry expert
One of the key discussions that will be closed at the historical BRICS 2023 summit will be the proposed creation of a new currency.
In a webinar hosted by the Inclusive Society Institute and its chief executive, Daryl Swanepoel, professor William Gumede gave his insights on the matter.
Gumede, who is the associate professor at the Wits School of Governance said it would take a significant amount of time to create a BRICS currency and that the process would be very complicated.
“The Russia-Ukraine war is likely to increase the de-dollarisation of the world. Russia is trying to circumvent Western economic sanctions against it as a result of its conflict.
Read the full story on the three things that can make the BRICS currency feasible according to industry expert here.
IOL
Tue, 22 Aug 2023 16:54:13 GMTIOL Reporter
0 Response to "LIVE BLOG: 15th BRICS Summit kicks off at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg"
Post a Comment