This live updates article has been closed. DW will resume coverage of the BRICS summit when it begins on Thursday.

 

The leaders of the BRICS countries have agreed on a roadmap for how to allow new states to join their group of up-and-coming economies, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told Ubuntu Radio — a station run by her own ministry.

"We have agreed on the matter of expansion," she said.

"We have a document that we've adopted which sets out guidelines and principles, processes for considering countries that wish to become members of BRICS...That's very positive," Pandor said.

She added that further details would be provided by the BRICS leaders by the end of the summit, currently taking place in Johannesburg.

Expansion of the bloc was one of the main topics on the agenda. More than 40 countries are interested in joining, with at least 22 — including Iran, Venezuela and Algeria — having already made formal requests to become members.