BRICS Summit 2018: South Africa: Johannesburg summit to benefit African continent

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02:39

South Africa's Foreign Ministry says the country is ready for the BRICS summit that begins on Wednesday. Nine African state leaders have also been invited. They are expected to discuss Africa's development with their BRICS counterparts. Wu Guoxiu has our report.

It was not until last Thursday that the Sandton Convention Center in downtown Johannesburg began setting up for the BRICS summit with extra contingents of police brought in to provide security. The host says although preparations are intensive, the country is ready.

WU GUOXIU JOHANNESBURG "Only a few days into the set-up of the venue, anticipation is high. South Africa's Foreign Minister says everything is pretty much in place and there's confidence that the BRICS summit will benefit the host country and African continent as a whole."

LINDIWE SISULU SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY MINISTER OF INT'L RELATIONS & COOPERATION "We joint the BRICS because we hope it works for South Africa. We are now able to announce that we have established the BRICS Bank, we hope a vaccine center to be set up. However, we would like to make sure that South Africa can benefit the same way that we are benefiting from this."

One of the themes of this year's summit is development and advancement of the 4th industrial revolution. An expert from one of South Africa's top universities says that's what Africa needs now.

LUMKILE MONDI, SENIOR ECONOMICS LECTURER WITS UNIVERSITY "The African continent particularly are on the 4th industrial revolution. It's a fact that China, Russia and Brazil have been every strong in manufacturing."

This year represents a decade of BRICS cooperation. The bloc has sought out academics and youth to join in discussions, while it says it is seeking "inclusive" growth. Wu Guoxiu, CGTN, Johannesburg.