South Africa's BRICS membership speaks for African: minister

South Africa's membership in BRICS is not just focus on narrow state interest, but also broadly on the African continent, said Minister of South African International Relations and Cooperation Department Maite Nkoana- Mashabane on Monday. "At the end of the Summit, a Joint Declaration was signed, which captures the central essence of what this evolving formation is committed to and seeks to achieve, going into the future, " Nkoana-Mashabane who was just back from China told a media briefing.

The Third BRICS Leaders Meeting was held on April 14 in Sanya, China. South Africa attended the meeting as the new member of the bloc. Analysts say the African continent would also benefit from South Africa's inclusion to the group through deeper cooperation in various areas. "Our fortunes (as African countries) are intertwined. As much as we didn't go to the AU to seek a mandate to join BRICS, SA diplomats speak for the wellbeing of SA but also the African continent as a whole.

"He (President Zuma) took advantage of our presence in Hainan in the BRICS summit to highlight what NEPAD (The New Partnership for Africa's Development) outlines," she told Xinhua.

She also said the BRICS push for the reform of the global institutions of governance and the UN will ensure that African issues enjoy center-stage in deliberations within the UN Security Council, the IMF and the World Bank.

Source: Xinhua

	Weekly review     April 14   BRICS nations can be anchor of global economy, politics   April 13   China launches assault on child kidnapping April 12   China's coastal seas unaffected by Japan's radioactive water April 11   US has serious human rights abuses: China April 16   The week in pictures April 11   PM Kan offers thanks for 'Kizuna' on People's Daily April 13   Stable BRICS nations prop up world development April 13   US should stop acting like 'preacher' of human rights April 15   GDP rises 9.7% in Q1, inflation surges too April 14   Auditor lady's sudden death sparks overwork debate