FM Confirms Xi Attending October BRICS Summit In Russia

(MNI) London - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has confirmed during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that President Xi Jinping will travel to the Russian city of Kazan for the BRICS summit scheduled for 22-24 October. It was widely expected that Xi would make the trip, but Wang's comments come as the first confirmation of the Chinese leader's attendance. Russian state-run RIA reports that Putin "noted the very successful development of Russian-Chinese relations in many areas, including international affairs, economics, and the humanitarian sphere." Putin said he would discuss these issues with Xi in a bilateral on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

• RFE/RL reported earlier in September that "Putin has looked to the Chinese leader for support since the Ukraine conflict began, with the two boosting trade to record highs as Russia faces heavy economic sanctions from the West. "As agreed, we are expecting Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit," Putin said during a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok."
• The BRICS summit will garner significant international attention, given that it will be the first taking place with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as full members, as well as the first since Turkey made an official application to join the bloc. Turkey's NATO membership has raised concerns in the West about Ankara's political intentions with regards to the bloc, which is often seen as a diplomatic and economic counterweight to the US-aligned G7 and NATO.