South Africa is confident of making its way into BRIC, the powerful economic coalition

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of the world's largest developing countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China, as it has made a "positive impression" on its members, a top minister has said.

"We believe they will take a favourable decision," International Relations and Cooperation's Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said while briefing the media following last week's state visit to China, which formed a part of government's worldwide tour to expand ties with fast-growing emerging economies.

"We think we have done our best to and we think we have made a positive impression on all the BRIC members," the minister said yesterday, adding that now all they could do was wait for a decision to be made.

South Africa is clamouring to become the fifth member of the BRIC economies and has held interactions with the Heads of State on the issue, Bua News reported.

It said the BRIC nations work to boost trade among themselves and South Africa is looking to expanded trade with the world, which will help it meet development needs.

Zuma had earlier visited India in June.

Nkoana-Mashabane also labelled President Jacob Zuma's state visit to China as a success.

Zuma visited China with 13 cabinet ministers and a 370-strong business delegation to strengthen ties between South Africa and the world's second-largest economy.

The ties between the two countries received a further boost, thanks to several new deals struck during the visit.

The visit also saw the signing of the Beijing Declaration which was signed by the two Presidents