Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, is due to begin on Thursday a two-day visit to Brazil, where he will attend a meeting of security officials of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) bloc, the Chinese government has announced.

A written announcement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry quotes its spokesman, Geng Shuang, as saying the meeting will discuss international security, major international issues, countering terrorism and cyber-security.

Mr Geng said in a press conference held on Monday that the Chinese government believed the meeting would enhance strategic trust among members of the bloc.

The meeting is a precursor to the summit meeting of the BRICS heads of government due to be held in Brasília next month, the announcement quotes the spokesman as saying.