CCP Leader Attends BRICS Summit: External Attention on Possible Surprises

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a press conference for domestic and foreign journalists as part of the National People's Congress and Two Sessions on March 7, 2024 in Beijing, China. China's annual political gathering known as the Two Sessions convenes leaders and lawmakers to set the government's agenda for domestic economic and social development for the year. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

[People News] According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this morning, CCP leader Xi Jinping, accompanied by Cai Qi and Wang Yi, boarded a special plane to Kazan, Russia, to attend the 16th BRICS Summit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The BRICS Summit is an international organization composed of emerging market countries, including China, Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa as founding members, with Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE among the member states. A key economic agenda for the summit is to promote trade, reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, and foster trade and financial cooperation using local currencies. Last year, it was announced that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Argentina, Iran, and Ethiopia would be invited to join as members.

In past BRICS summits, unexpected events often occurred when Xi Jinping participated.

At the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, people vividly recall that during Xi’s attendance, he was seen walking unsteadily and announced that China would introduce a $10 billion fund to implement the Global Development Initiative. He was unexpectedly absent from a scheduled address at the business forum, with no explanation provided by the CCP to date. On the second day of the summit, his entourage was stopped at the door and did not enter the venue with him. Rumors suggested that Wang Yi, who was responsible for procedural arrangements at the summit, had to write a self-criticism after returning to Beijing. After the summit, Xi directly flew to Urumqi to personally oversee stability measures.

Political observers believe that this organization, driven by China and Russia, aims to counter the G7 group of developed nations. The CCP often uses such opportunities to squander taxpayers' money for grand gestures, regardless of the people’s struggles, to boost its own image, appearing more powerful than it actually is. Domestically, crises may be managed, but internationally, the regime is determined to save face. External observers are curious about what kind of news the CCP might generate during this summit.

Experts believe that the global financial crisis, the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on developing economies, climate change, and geopolitical tensions are the challenges BRICS countries face. The Kazan summit is expected to make progress on a project long in the works since 2015—"de-dollarization" in trade and financial transactions.

Subramanian, of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, warned that the BRICS countries' pivot toward anti-Western rhetoric and China-centered initiatives may conflict with India’s non-alignment principles. He stated, "Supporting BRICS could mean endorsing China's geopolitical ambitions, which may not be favorable for India," suggesting that this could lead to internal divisions within the organization.

The Kazan Summit will focus global attention on whether the BRICS Summit will continue to be a forum filled with internal contradictions or become a force for maintaining international order.

According to Russian presidential aide Ushakov, the summit will kick off with a friendly dinner at Kazan City Hall on Tuesday evening local time, followed by a "grand" reception on Wednesday evening. On October 22, a series of dialogues will begin, with Russian President Putin meeting with New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, followed by talks with CCP leader Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and other dignitaries.