Ramaphosa Holds Call w/China's Xi Amid BRICS Uncertainty

Chinese state media reporting that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have held a phone call amid continued uncertainty as to the stance of the BRICS leaders' summit due to take place later this year. State media reports Xi as stating that China 'supports South Africa as the rotating BRICS presidency in hosting various activities this year.'

• Ostensibly the summit will take place in Johannesburg. However, the ICC arrest warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin complicates proceedings, as South African authorities would be obliged to detain Putin on his arrival as signatories of the Rome statute.
• Bloomberg reports: "An inter-ministerial committee led by deputy President Paul Mashatile that’s looking into the repercussions of a Putin visit met this week to finalize a report on the government’s options,[...]. Legal opinions sought by the government didn’t identify any potential loopholes around the ICC warrant, they said."
• Bloomberg: "Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with South African Police Minister Bheki Cele in Beijing on Thursday, Xinhua reported. China is ready to work with South Africa to strengthen security at the BRICS summit and elsewhere, and push for the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, the news agency cited Wang as saying."