BRICS 2023 meeting , South Africa
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South Africa, BRICS new chair for the year 2023, is hosting the first meeting of BRICS Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas in Bela Bela, Limpopo Province, from Feb. 1-2, according to a press release from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Anil Sooklal, South Africa's Ambassador-at-Large for Asia and BRICS Sherpa Professor, are hosting the representatives of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, as per the statement.

"South Africa is Chairing BRICS under the theme: "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism". The theme emphasizes the continued value of BRICS as a partnership of leading emerging markets and developing countries providing leadership and momentum towards global growth, sustainable development, and inclusion of the global South in the world system," the statement read in part.

South Africa's Durban will host the 15th annual BRICS summit in August 2023.

The formation of a new unified currency for the member states and bloc expansion are among the topics that will be discussed at the August 2023 BRICS summit.

Additionally, forging a partnership for a just and equitable transition, transforming education and skill development for the future, and increasing trade prospects via the African Continental Free Trade Agreement are among South Africa's key priorities for this year's meeting.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are the five nations that make up the BRICS bloc.

Many people view the BRICS as a counterbalance to western-led organizations in the context of the current international order, ready to forge a multipolar world and lessen reliance on the West.

South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, said in January that the BRICS was developing criteria for nations that wish to join the group and that a decision on whether to accept new members might be made by the end of 2023.

Several nations including UAE, Algeria, Iran, and Argentina had previously expressed interest in joining the forum.

According to Pandor, the BRICS grouping of five rising economies is examining alternatives to the dollar-dominated payment system that is biased in favor of very affluent nations. "We have always been concerned by the fact that there is a dominance of the dollar and that we do need to look at alternatives," she said, as reported by the BRICS information portal.

Furthermore, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa intend to launch a "new global reserve currency" at the 14th BRICS Summit in June last