Leaders of BRICS Group Convening for 17th Annual Summit in Rio

Addis Ababa, July 6, 2025 (ENA) -- Leaders and representatives from the BRICS alliance will convene on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th annual summit of the group, where they are anticipated to discuss significant topics such as trade, investment, financial cooperation, and artificial intelligence.

The attendees of the Summit include Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and Chinese Prime Minister, Li Qiang.  

The discussions spanning two days will be led by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, focusing on trade and investment, financial collaboration, artificial intelligence and technology, global health, and climate initiatives.

BRICS was initially established in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa becoming a member the subsequent year.

The group has now expanded to include 11 members, which now feature Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, the most recent addition to the coalition.

Furthermore, an additional 10 nations, including Vietnam, Nigeria, and Malaysia, have been recognized as official "partner countries," a new classification that was introduced during the 16th BRICS summit held in Russia.

The bloc, which sees itself as a voice for the Global South, accounts for around 44 percent of global GDP and more than 56 percent of the world’s population.

It advocates for a multipolar global order and genuine multilateralism.

The group seeks better cooperation among Global South countries by creating alternative financial systems, reducing dollar dependency and greater representation in global institutions.

With the theme for this year's summit, “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” the BRICS nations are set to discuss a wide range of topics

Brazil is said to focus on six key topics, including global health cooperation, trade, investment and finance, and climate change. It is also emphasizing artificial intelligence, governance, multilateral peace and security architecture, and institutional development.