Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Russia, Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo from Friday to March 30.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the announcement in Beijing on Monday.

Xi is making the visit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, South African President Jacob Zuma and Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Xi will also attend the fifth leaders' summit of BRICS countries, to be held from March 26 to 27 in Durban, South Africa.

BRICS is an economic bloc representing five of the world's leading emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Xinhua

(China Daily 03/19/2013 page11)