Foreign ministers from BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – gathered in Beijing on Monday ahead of a major summit later this year in southern China. 

The ministers – China’s Wang Yi, Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, South Africa’s Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Brazil’s Aloysio Nunes, and India's Vijay Kumar Singh – were discussing arrangements for the BRICS Leaders Meeting in Xiamen in September, as well as the expected outcome of a dialogue between developing countries and emerging markets.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the summit. /VCG Photo

BRICS summits have been held annually since 2009, with member countries taking turns to host. This year, China will host the ninth such event in Xiamen, in southeastern Fujian Province.