South Africa’s DIRCO Set to Host Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting

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South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is set to host the Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting in Durban from November 30 to December 3, 2023. The assembly of emissaries from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa plays a crucial role in preparing for the main summit by addressing various issues and laying a detailed foundation for subsequent conversations. The meeting carries exceptional significance as it symbolizes the end of South Africa’s term as the Chair of BRICS and serves as a platform to further the conversation on cooperation and collaboration with other nations.

South Africa to Host Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting

An assembly of emissaries, known as “Sherpas”, from five major emerging economies will gather in Durban, South Africa from November 30 to December 3, 2023. The BRICS Sherpas Meeting plays a crucial role in preparing for the main summit by addressing various issues and laying a detailed foundation for subsequent conversations. The 2023 meeting carries exceptional significance as it symbolizes the end of South Africa’s term as the Chair of BRICS.

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South Africa’s International Spotlight

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is poised to take center stage in a global forum as it gets ready to host the Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting. The event is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 3, 2023, in Durban, a bustling city found in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The BRICS Sherpas Meeting is an assembly of emissaries, often known as “Sherpas,” from five major emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These Sherpas, who are carefully chosen by their respective governments, play a crucial role in preparing for the main summit by addressing various issues and laying a detailed foundation for subsequent conversations.

Symbolism and Significance of the 2023 Meeting

The 2023 meeting carries exceptional significance as it symbolizes the end of South Africa’s term as the Chair of BRICS. This tenure, concluding on December 31, 2023, will be assessed and contemplated during the meeting. Following this, the leadership of BRICS will be transferred to the Russian Federation, which will take on the mantle from January 1, 2024.

However, the meeting is more than a ceremonial exchange of roles. It acts as a platform to further the conversation on cooperation and collaboration with other nations. Countries including Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to join BRICS. Their involvement in the Sherpas Meeting is anticipated to widen the dialogue and introduce new viewpoints on global issues.

The meeting will be conducted over various sessions on different days, allowing for thorough discussions and deliberations. Media outlets are invited to cover the commencement of the BRICS Sherpas Meeting on November 30, and the Extended BRICS Sherpas Meeting on December 2. A media briefing has been planned for December 3, providing a public view into the proceedings and revealing the results of these high-level talks.

Logistics and Expectations

The Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel will serve as the venue for the event, a location fitting the international significance of the meeting. To effectively handle logistics and ensure a smooth experience, attendees are requested to RSVP by November 27, 2023, by DIRCO.

DIRCO and South Africa consider hosting the Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting as a mark of honor. It not only underlines the nation’s growing clout on the global stage but also showcases its dedication to promoting international relations and cooperation. It also serves as a testament to South Africa’s efforts during its term as the BRICS Chair.

The Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting will be more than just diplomacy at play. It symbolizes the increasing interdependence of the world. The inclusion of nations beyond BRICS, and the vast array of issues expected to be debated, underscores a shift towards a more comprehensive and inclusive global cooperation discourse.

The Road Ahead

The Sherpas Meeting is expected to address critical global matters such as economic growth, climate change, peace and security, and social inclusion. It offers these nations a platform to set the agenda for the BRICS Summit and initiate significant global change.

In summary, the Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting, hosted by DIRCO, is much more than a simple event. It signifies South Africa’s role in global matters, a meeting point of diverse nations, and a symbol of collaboration and growth in a rapidly changing world. Only time will reveal how this event will influence the future of BRICS and global cooperation. However, one certainty prevails – the world’s attention will be focused on Durban as of November 30.

1. What is the Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting?

The Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting is an assembly of emissaries from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which plays a crucial role in preparing for the main summit by addressing various issues and laying a detailed foundation for subsequent conversations.

2. When and where will the meeting be held?

The meeting is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 3, 2023, in Durban, South Africa, at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel.

3. What is the significance of the 2023 meeting?

The 2023 meeting symbolizes the end of South Africa’s term as the Chair of BRICS. Following this, the leadership of BRICS will be transferred to the Russian Federation, which will take on the mantle from January 1, 2024.

4. Who has been invited to join BRICS?

Countries including Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to join BRICS.

5. What is the expected outcome of the meeting?

The Sherpas Meeting is expected to address critical global matters such as economic growth, climate change, peace and security, and social inclusion. It offers these nations a platform to set the agenda for the BRICS Summit and initiate significant global change.

6. What is the significance of South Africa hosting the meeting?

South Africa’s hosting of the Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting highlights the nation’s growing clout on the global stage and showcases its dedication to promoting international relations and cooperation. It also serves as a testament to South Africa’s efforts during its term as the BRICS Chair.

Zola Naidoo is a Cape Town journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting politics and the lived realities behind the headlines. A weekend trail-runner on Table Mountain’s lower contour paths, she still swops stories in her grandmother’s District Six kitchen every Sunday, grounding her reporting in the cadences of the Cape.

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