section_path: History/2010 expansion
section_name: 2010 expansion
paragraph_text: 2010 expansion
  
  In 2010, South Africa began efforts to join BRIC, and the process for its formal admission began in August of that year. South Africa officially became a member nation on 24 December 2010 after being formally invited by China, and was subsequently accepted by other BRIC countries. The group was renamed BRICS to represent the addition of South Africa to the original four BRIC members. At the third BRICS summit in 2011 in Sanya, China, South African president Jacob Zuma represented the country as a full member for the first time.