Rio de Janeiro: President Cyril Ramaphosa will, at the invitation of His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, attend the XVII BRICS Summit from 6 to 7 July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. BRICS is a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries from the Global South. The BRICS Summit theme is Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.
According to African Press Organization, these deliberations will enhance efforts to further diversify trade and enhance resilience, growth, and development for South Africa. The Summit will look into synergies between BRICS, COP30, and G20 outcomes, including in global governance of artificial intelligence and prioritising climate finance that is just, accessible, and transformational. BRICS leaders will continue advocating for the reform of global governance systems to be more inclusive and representative of contemporary realities. This includes the goal of countries of the South for more meaningful participation of the global South in global decision-making processes and structures, including in the United Nations Security Council.
The specific objectives of South Africa's engagement in BRICS are to enhance future growth and development through its BRICS membership, strengthen intra-BRICS relations, and develop mutually beneficial cooperation across the three pillars of cooperation: political and security, financial and economic, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation. South Africa aims to shape global governance reform to be more equitable, balanced, and representative. The country emphasises concrete cooperation that contributes both directly and indirectly to the priorities of a better South Africa, a better Africa, and a better world through its partnership in BRICS.
During the XVII BRICS Summit session, leaders are expected to deliberate on topics including global governance reform and peace and security, with a report by National Security Advisors. Heads of State and Government will discuss a BRICS Leaders Statement on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. This will be followed by the adoption of a BRICS Leaders Framework Declaration on Climate Finance and the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases. The Summit will close with the adoption of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration.
The Summit will be attended by Leaders of the BRICS member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Member states participate in all BRICS meetings, while partner states participate principally in Summits. Partner states may be invited to other meetings of the association if members agree on this. Leaders of BRICS partner countries will come from Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The Rio Summit will also be attended by leaders of outreach countries, which in the BRICS system are countries from the region where the rotational presidency is located. In this context, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay have also been invited by the Government of Brazil to participate in the Rio gathering. The United Nations, the African Union, and international organisations will also participate.
Leaders of all BRICS members are confirmed for the Rio Summit with President Putin participating virtually and China represented by Premier Li Qiang. President Ramaphosa is supported by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola; Minister in The Presidency, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni; Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo; and Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi.
