President Cyril Ramaphosa is to attend the Brics Summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed this during a press briefing on Thursday.
As Brics chair in 2024, the Russian Federation’s theme for the organisation is ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security’.
Magwenya said South Africa’s participation in the summit was aimed at enhancing the country’s growth and development through its membership in Brics, focusing on strengthening intra-Brics relations and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.
This includes advancing political and security cooperation, financial and economic cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation.
Russia indicated that it would focus on “promoting the entire range of partnership and cooperation within the framework of the association on three key tracks – politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties”.
Responding to questions in the National Assembly in Parliament in August, President Ramaphosa spoke of the value of the Brics alliance in advancing Africa’s developmental agenda.
As chair of Brics last year, South Africa invited representatives from other African countries to attend the summit, hosted in Johannesburg. Forty-six African countries attended, including 20 heads of state and government.
On the domestic front, the president will also attend the tabling of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in parliament on October 30.
“The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement is an important step forward in the budget process. In keeping with our commitment to open, transparent and cooperative policymaking, it invites the nation to share with government the important choices to be completed,” Magwenya said.
