Arriving in the Chinese beach resort of Sanya this week, Jacob Zuma, South African president, proclaimed a “historic moment” for his country.
South Africa’s inclusion in Thursday’s summit reflects the Bric nations’ desire to strengthen the club’s legitimacy as a voice for the emerging world – and also their interest in Africa’s abundant natural resources.
On most key metrics, the country is an incongruous addition to the club of leading developing economies. Gross domestic product in the other Brics ranges from China’s $5,878bn to $1,465bn in Russia, compared with South Africa’s $357bn. The International Monetary Fund puts South African growth at 3.5 per cent this year, against 9.6 per cent in China.
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