DURBAN, South Africa - Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of the other major emerging economies met a group of African leaders in Durban, South Africa, Wednesday to discuss cooperation between the BRICS nations and Africa.

At the first BRICS Leaders-Africa Dialogue Forum, leaders from BRICS members, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation mainly in the development of infrastructure.

The meeting is under the theme "Unlocking Africa's potential: BRICS and Africa cooperation on infrastructure," South African President Jacob Zuma told a press conference on Monday.

"The retreat will reflect primarily on infrastructure development, as well as integration and industrialization, which are aligned to Africa's own priorities, for the mutual benefit of the BRICS countries and the continent," said the South African president.

Zuma, host of the BRICS summit, said that he has invited 15 African heads of state and the chairperson of the African Union Commission to the first BRICS Leaders-Africa Dialogue Forum, which was held after the BRICS summit.

In a written statement issued upon his arrival in South Africa on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that it is of great significance for the BRICS summit to be held for the first time on the African continent along with the first BRICS Leaders-Africa Dialogue Forum.

"I look forward to discussing plans of cooperation with leaders of other BRICS countries and African nations," he said.

The dialogue was held shortly after the conclusion of the fifth BRICS summit, which is for the first time so closely related to the development of Africa, under the theme of "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialization."

As major emerging markets, the BRICS countries account for 42 percent of the world's population and 20 percent of the world's GDP and 15 percent of global trade.

In recent years, the BRICS mechanism has become an important force in countering the international financial crisis, boosting world economic growth, improving the governance of the global economy and promoting democracy in international relations.