The 9th BRICS Summit – bringing together ten emerging markets and developing countries to discuss ways to broaden South-South cooperation – got underway in China’s southeastern coastal city of Xiamen on Sunday. 

To cover the meetings of the influential bloc, approximately 3,000 reporters from 80 countries around the globe have gathered in the island city. CGTN's Anand Naidoo is also in Xiamen. He has shared his impression of the event and the city:

Frankly, I did not know what to expect when I was told I would be heading to this host city in Fujian Province for the 2017 BRICS Summit. It was initially described to me as a “small” Chinese city on the country’s southeastern coast.

I have since learned that “small” is a relative term in China. This small city is actually a major metropolis. The city's population was three million, according to the 2010 census report and now it is home to 3.92 million residents.

First impressions last and my first impression of Xiamen is of a beautiful city with wide tree-lined boulevards and high rise buildings that are more reminiscent of Manhattan rather than coastal China.

It is well-laid out – in other words, the city’s streets meet at right angles! (that helps with navigation) And there are a plethora of well-manicured green spaces including a beautiful lake, which my hotel overlooks.

Add to that perfect summer weather albeit a bit humid and it looks like a city made for a major gathering of world leaders.

The studios from where my colleagues and I will be broadcasting for the duration of the summit are purpose-built sound-proof glass cases overlooking the estuary between Xiamen (which is an island itself) and the smaller island of Gulangyu. There could be no more stunning a setting for television.

The aforementioned Gulangyu Island – translated roughly as “place of drum waves” because of the sound made by waves crashing – forms a spectacular backdrop to our set.

If Xiamen itself has seen rapid progress and growth in the last ten years, Gulangyu is the place where time has taken a break. I spent several hours on the island, which has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List this year.

The island – only two square kilometers – is crowded with stately homes and a shopping quarter of winding, narrow streets filled with restaurants, coffee bars and shops selling tourist staples like the region’s famous fruit cakes and jewelry. 

Those of us who are more adventurous (and fit) climbed to the highest point on the island at Sunlight Rock, where we were awed by the spectacular view for miles around. 

One of the most sought-after pieces of real estate in China, Gulangyu is also known as Piano Island and is home to some of the country’s top musicians. In a country somewhat obsessed by classical music, Gulangyu has the distinction of having the highest density of pianos of any city in China – one piano for every five families.

So far, CGTN’s reporting team has been focusing on previews of the summit and showcasing Chinese culture, but that will change as the meeting of leaders gets underway starting Sunday.

Anand Naidoo is the anchor for CGTN America’s program The Heat, based at the network’s Washington DC Bureau. Before joining CGTN in 2012, the TV expert had worked with other prominent international media outlets including Al Jazeera English and CNN International. Over the past two decades, Anand has covered major breaking news stories across the world, reporting from the Middle East, South Asia, South Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe. Anand is also a recipient of several prestigious international journalism awards.