Xi returns to Beijing after attending 16th BRICS Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Thursday midnight after concluding his visit to Russia to attend the 16th BRICS Summit in the city of Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.

Prior to Xi's departure, the head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and senior officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry gathered at the Kazan International Airport to see off the Chinese president.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, were on the same plane.

Xi had flown in to Kazan on Tuesday to attend the three-day BRICS summit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that the collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive feature of the great transformation being seen across the world. Xi made the statement while addressing the "BRICS Plus" leaders' dialogue held during the 16th BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

"The collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive feature of the great transformation across the world. Global South countries marching together toward modernization is monumental in world history and unprecedented in human civilization. At the same time, peace and development still faces severe challenges, and the road to prosperity for the Global South will not be straight. Standing at the forefront of the Global South, we should use our collective wisdom and strength, and stand up to our responsibility for building a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi said.

The summit took place from Tuesday to Thursday in Kazan, the capital city of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, with Xi attending the event at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

BRICS began with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and has now evolved into an influential international cooperation mechanism with an expanded membership.

Besides the countries that officially joined the BRICS family on Jan 1, 2024, over 30 countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan have either formally applied for or expressed interest in membership.