Xi leaves for Latin America to attend BRICS summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing Sunday morning for his second Latin America tour since assuming presidency last March.

During the trip, which will end July 23, Xi will attend the sixth BRICS summit in Brazil and pay state visits to Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Cuba.

The sixth BRICS leaders' meeting on July 15-16 will be the first major event during Xi's tour.

It is the start of BRICS' second round of meetings after all its member states -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- have hosted at least one meeting.

During the meeting, Xi and leaders of other member states will map out the blueprint for future cooperation among BRICS countries. Xi will also hold bilateral meetings with the heads of other member states.

After the BRICS meeting, Xi will hold talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and the two countries will ink agreements on trade and infrastructure. This year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

This visit will be Xi's second Latin American tour as president. Last year, he visited Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico from May 31 to June 6, during which he held talks with leaders of eight Caribbean nations.

On his way to Brazil, Xi will stop off on the Greek island of Rhodes on a technical stop.

Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a daily news briefing that during the stop Xi would meet Greece's president and prime minister.