Putin Says Expects China’s Xi at BRICS Summit in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend a summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies in Russia later this year.

"We expect that the President of the People's Republic of China, our dear friend Xi Jinping, will take part in this summit," Putin said in a video address to the BRICS Business Forum.

The summit will be held in Moscow in July.

Xi has not left China since the COVID-19 pandemic began more than two years ago.

Putin said he had invited Xi to visit Russia on several occasions, but the Chinese leader had been unable to make the trip due to the pandemic.

“I hope that this year, the situation will allow him to come to Russia,” Putin said.

The BRICS group also includes Brazil, India, and South Africa.

The group was founded in 2006 as a way for emerging economies to cooperate on issues of mutual interest.

The BRICS countries have a combined population of more than 3 billion people and a combined GDP of more than $23 trillion.

The group has been criticized by some for being ineffective, but it has also been seen as a counterweight to the G7 group of advanced economies.

In recent years, the BRICS countries have been working to strengthen their cooperation on a range of issues, including trade, investment, and security.

The group has also been working to expand its membership, and it is currently in talks with Argentina and Iran about joining.