China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in #SouthAfrica at midnight on Monday for his fourth State Visit to the country, which coincides with the 15th #BRICSSummit.

After arriving at the OR Tambo International Airport in #Johannesburg at midnight on Monday, Xi was welcomed with a cultural song and dance performance as well as a #military parade by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

He was received by President #CyrilRamaphosa who will host the Chinese leader in the executive capital, #Pretoria, on Tuesday ahead of the BRICS summit which runs from August 22 to 24.

BRICS is a bloc of emerging economies that includes #Brazil, #Russia, #India, #China and #SouthAfrica. It currently makes up a quarter of the global economy and is also home to more than 40 percent of the world’s #population.

Writing in his weekly column on Monday, Ramaphosa said 2023 marks 25 years of #diplomatic ties between South Africa and the People’s Republic of #China.

“Our bilateral relationship with our largest trading #partner is almost as old as our democracy,” he said.

“South Africa has a great deal to learn from China’s #development path. Among other achievements, China has lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty over a 40-year period.”