Red carpet and Kruger National Park for China's President

Xi landed at Waterkloof Airbase for his state visit ahead of the much anticipated 10th BRICS Summit in Sandton.

He was officially welcomed by the Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), Lindiwe Sisulu.

"We intend to take him to Kruger Park, we intent to show him the sites, we intent to spend some time with him. You know relations is not only about what we can get economically," said Sisulu during a press conference.

The red carpet will be rolled out at the Union Buildings on Tuesday morning ahead of bilateral talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

"The state visit takes place within the context of strengthening strategic and historic political, economic, social and international cooperation partnership between South Africa and China," the presidency said in a statement.

Meanwhile, dignitaries and officials from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) are expected to flock to Johannesburg for the summit tasked to focus on investment-led trade.

Namibian President Hage Geingob, Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Angola President João Lourenço are some of the African leaders expected to attend the BRICS summit kicking off on Wednesday.

Africa's Free Trade Agreement is also set to take centre stage at the summit.

"This is a great leap ahead for Africa. We would like to make sure whatever possibilities exist in BRICS are available for the rest of Africa," said Sisulu.