China's basketball legend Yao Ming, left, attends the 187th Congregation of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) where he is conferred Honorary Degree as an outstanding individual in Hong Kong, Nov 27, 2012. [Photo/CFP]
An unusually heavy downpour hit Durban for two days before the BRICS summit's debut on African soil, but interest for a better platform for emerging markets were still sparked at the summit.