Beijing, Mar 9 (IANS): China's new President Xi Jinping will attend the fifth summit of BRICS countries' leaders in South Africa, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here Saturday.

The visit by the new president will give impetus to strengthening partnership among the BRICS countries, improving the BRICS mechanism, and boosting the cooperation between BRICS nations and countries in Africa and other regions, Yang told a press conference.

"The BRICS mechanism has become an important force in countering the international financial crisis, driving world economic growth, improving the governance of the global economy, and promoting democracy in international relations," Yang said at the press conference held on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session, which is set to elect new state leadership including the president.

South Africa is to host the BRICS summit in Durban March 26-27.

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

BRICS member countries represent about 43 percent of the world population and approximately one fifth of the global gross domestic product.