The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Xiamen, China, saw the addition of six new members – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The original BRICS grouping was formed in 2006 as a reaction to the global financial crisis and the growing dominance of the West. The new members are all countries with a significant Muslim population and with a view to strengthening cooperation within the bloc on issues such as trade, investment, finance, agriculture and energy.
The move is seen as a response to US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The BRICS countries now account for around 40% of the world’s population and around a quarter of global GDP.