- Sputnik Africa, 1920
2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg
The 15th BRICS summit will take place from August 22-24 in Johannesburg, South Africa, which assumed the rotating BRICS presidency in January 2023.

BRICS-Africa Partnership to Unleash Continent's Potential: SA President Ramaphosa

© Photo Twitter / @CyrilRamaphosaSouth Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 21.08.2023
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On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that one of South Africa's priorities as chair of BRICS is to strengthen cooperation between the economic bloc and African countries. The minister stressed that this approach is "fully shared" by Russia and other member states.
South Africa aims to build a strong partnership between the BRICS economic bloc and African nations, so that the continent is able to unlock its potential and benefit from increased trade and investment, said President Cyril Ramaphosa in his address on the country's foreign policy ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
According to the president, South Africa has always promoted the continent's interests within various international platforms, including BRICS. In this regard, he added, to further advance Africa's development agenda, 30 heads of state and government from across the continent will attend the summit, scheduled for August 22-24.

"South Africa has always championed the interests of Africa within BRICS," he said, adding: "We want to build a partnership between BRICS and Africa so that our continent can unlock opportunities for increased trade, investment and infrastructure development."

New Development Bank's logo in the HQ of the bank in Shanghai. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 21.08.2023
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In particular, he pointed to the prospects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that the BRICS member states could participate in its implementation by locating products on the continent's markets or establishing ties with local companies.
"There are great opportunities for other BRICS countries to participate in the African Continental Free Trade Area by locating production and services in various countries on the African continent, including our own, by partnering with local companies and entrepreneurs," the president stated.
According to the South African leader, his country's foreign policy is aimed at improving the well-being, security and prosperity of people and "achieving a better Africa and world."
He emphasized that despite various challenges as the world is becoming more complex and fragmented, "polarized into competing camps," South Africa remains committed to advancing Africa's development and industrialization.
The president further elaborated that the country, as well as other African states, is working towards the full implementation of the AfCFTA, the largest free trade agreement in the world in terms of number of countries and population, covering 1.4 billion people.
He noted that the continent-wide free trade area is expected to accelerate manufacturing and industrial capacity of the continent, turn it into "the vibrant trading Africa."
"Africa remains at the center of our foreign policy [...]. We are working towards the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is set to eliminate trade barriers, boost intra African trade and achieve prosperity for all of Africa," Ramaphosa underlined.
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The president reiterated that BRICS as an organization of the world's leading emerging economies plays an important role in the system of international relations due to its economic power, market potential and political influence.
Noting that "the value of BRICS extends beyond its sheer size," he explained that the BRICS countries "have used their collective voice to call for a world" that is fairer, more balanced and equitable.
Ramaphosa highlighted the significance of the upcoming gathering for South Africa and the continent in general. In addition to African leaders in attendance, leaders from several countries of the Global South are also expected to participate in the summit, he said. These include states from the Caribbean and South America, from the Middle East, West Asia, South Asia and South-East Asia.
The BRICS summit will take place on August 22-24 in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to the country's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, the leaders of the "five" are expected to discuss the expansion of the organization. Earlier, she stated that more than 20 countries had filed formal applications to join the association.
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