All eyes will be on Rio de Janeiro this week, as leaders gather for the 17th BRICS Summit. In 2006, Brazil, Russia, India and China formed the group of emerging economies and then added South Africa in 2010, renaming the bloc, BRICS. 

Today, there are eleven member countries and nine partner countries, representing over 40% of the global population. Earlier this week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry discussed the importance of the alliance.

Joining the discussion:

• Vitelio Brustolin is a Professor of International Relations at Fluminense Federal University and Researcher at Harvard University.
• Wang Huiyao is a former Counselor with the China State Council and the Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization.
• Vijay Prashad is the Executive Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
• Ebrahim Rasool is the former South African Ambassador to the United States and the founder of the World for All Foundation.