African experts stressed that the continent could benefit from strengthening multilateralism through BRICS and highlighted China's central role in the international cooperation mechanism. The 15th BRICS summit is scheduled to take place from August 22 to 24 in Johannesburg. It will be the first offline summit held by the member countries since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will gather along with leaders from other developing countries.