Moment President Xi’s translator gets body-slammed up against a wall by South African security guards ‘for looking suspicious’

There were chaotic scenes at the BRICS conference in South Africa when a man thought to be Xi Jinping’s translator was body-slammed by security staff as he rushed to the Chinese President’s side.

President Xi walked the red carpet at the event in Johannesburg on Wednesday where he was greeted by officials before the plenary conference session began.

As he entered the main area of the venue, a Chinese official lurched forward in an apparent attempt to catch up with his boss. 

Security guards became suspicious and immediately jumped on the man, shoving him against the wall with full force before flinging the doors closed to stop him from following Xi inside.

The president repeatedly glanced back dumbfounded, possibly wondering what the commotion was about or questioning the whereabouts of his official.

President Xi walked the red carpet at the event in Johannesburg on Wednesday where he was greeted by officials before the conference session began

The president repeatedly glanced back dumbfounded, possibly wondering what the commotion was about or questioning the whereabouts of his official

Xi tried to maintain his composure as the bizarre episode unfolded, continuing to walk down the carpet despite the dramatic events going on just behind him

Xi tried to maintain his composure as the bizarre episode unfolded, continuing to walk down the carpet despite the dramatic events going on just behind him. 

The footage went viral online as the BRICS countries – a bloc which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – met for their annual summit.

They agreed the admission of six new members, with Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates set to join the anti-Western alliance from January 1.

The footage went viral online as the BRICS countries – a bloc which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – met to for their annual summit

‘This membership expansion is historic,’ said Xi Jinping, whose nation is the most powerful in the group of large and populous non-Western economies.

‘The expansion is also a new starting point for BRICS cooperation. It will bring new vigour to the BRICS cooperation mechanism and further strengthen the force for world peace and development’.

It comes after President Xi unexpectedly skipped a speech at the business forum on Tuesday, with no reason given for his absence.