Chinese President Hu Jintao and leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa met Thursday in Cannes, France, ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) summit.

The leaders of the five countries, or BRICS, were expected to exchange views on strengthening cooperation within the grouping and protecting interests of other developing countries.

The Cannes G20 summit, slated for Thursday and Friday, will address the major problems affecting the world economic recovery and the stability of the global financial market.

Issues to be discussed at the summit, among others, include the eurozone debt crisis, reform of the international monetary system, and the strengthening of financial regulations.

President Hu arrived in Cannes for the G20 summit on Wednesday.