Chinese President Xi Jinping headed to South Africa on Monday, state media reported, where he will attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
The state visit will be Xi's second international trip of 2023, after making an official trip to Russia in March.
"Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Monday for the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a state visit to South Africa," Xinhua news agency reported.
The heads of Brazil, China, India and South Africa plus Russia's top diplomat will gather from Tuesday to Thursday this week under the theme "BRICS and Africa", South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said this month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the gathering by video.
The Chinese leader previously visited South Africa in 2018 as he sought to enhance his country's diplomatic and economic ties with the continent.
Several African countries have previously expressed a desire to join the bloc, including Algeria, Egypt and Ethiopia.
A total of 69 countries have been invited to the summit, including all African states.
BRICS, a group that sees itself as a counterweight to Western economic domination, derives its name from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The group represents 23% of the world's gross domestic product and 42% of the world's population.