The leaders of Russia, China, and other major developing countries are to meet their counterparts from five smaller developing countries on September 5 on the final day of a summit in the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen.

The talks will include the leaders of Egypt, Guinea, Mexico, Tajikistan, and Thailand, who were invited by China in an effort to expand the so-called BRICS grouping, which usually includes only the five largest developing economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The BRICS altogether cover more than a quarter of the world’s landmass, are home to more than 40 percent of the world’s population, and produce 22.5 percent of the world’s economic output, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The group has positioned itself as a counterweight to the Western-dominated world order.

Efforts to turn the group into a cohesive block have been difficult, however, as each country has traditionally taken different approaches on foreign-policy and economic matters.

On the final day of the BRICS summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and give a press conference, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.

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