Signboards of the 15th BRICS summit are seen in a street of Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug 17, 2023. The 15th BRICS summit is to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Aug 22-24. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Monday for the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a state visit to South Africa.

Xi is visiting at the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. While in South Africa, the two leaders will co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue.

ALSO READ: Full text: Xi Jinping's signed article on S. African media

Xi's entourage includes Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, among others.