BRICS summit opens in New Delhi with trade and global conflicts on agenda

BRICS leaders opened their summit in New Delhi on Saturday with trade, investment and global conflicts at the centre of talks among the expanded group of emerging economies.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is representing South Africa at the two-day gathering hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit takes place against the backdrop of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and continuing tensions between the United States and China.

South Africa says it will use the meeting to push for more trade and investment within BRICS, industrial development, investment in African infrastructure and reform of the United Nations and international financial institutions.

Ramaphosa is due to address an India-South Africa Business Leadership Roundtable on Saturday. The Presidency said the session would focus on bilateral trade and investment in pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, critical minerals and the electric-vehicle battery value chain.

He is also scheduled to join a closed leaders' session on multilateral governance. On Sunday, Ramaphosa is expected to speak during the summit's open session on inclusive global growth.

BRICS now includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Partner states and invited countries are also taking part.

The Associated Press reported that thousands of police and paramilitary personnel had been deployed around the summit venue and other parts of New Delhi, with traffic restrictions in place.

The meeting will test whether the bloc's members can agree on practical economic priorities despite their different strategic interests. South Africa's programme also includes bilateral meetings with other heads of state and engagements with business leaders.

The summit concludes on Sunday. Any joint declaration or agreed measures will be assessed against the positions set out by the participating governments.