Angolan President João Lourenço arrived in Brazil on Saturday to participate in the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, held in the city of Rio de Janeiro from July 6 to 7.
Attending in his capacity as acting President of the African Union (AU), Lourenço is among the key invitees representing regional blocs from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The high-level summit brings together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—member countries of the BRICS alliance—to engage in multilateral dialogue on some of the most pressing global challenges.
This year’s agenda includes issues of global peace and security, reform of international governance institutions, multilateral cooperation, artificial intelligence, climate action, and global public health.
The presence of President Lourenço underscores Africa’s growing voice in global geopolitical and economic conversations.
As acting AU President, he is expected to present the continent’s position on the reform of global governance structures and advocate for deeper South-South cooperation.
The summit comes at a time when the BRICS bloc is expanding its international influence and inviting broader participation from developing economies.
Leaders attending the summit are also expected to discuss economic partnerships, sustainable development initiatives, and collaborative strategies for managing the challenges posed by emerging technologies and environmental degradation.
President Lourenço’s trip reflects Angola’s broader diplomatic outreach and its commitment to representing African interests on the global stage.
His participation in the BRICS summit is seen as a strategic opportunity to foster stronger ties between Africa and major global economies, particularly in areas of infrastructure, trade, and technological innovation.
The summit concludes on July 7, with a joint declaration expected to outline shared commitments and action plans for the years ahead.
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