Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) welcomes US President Barack Obama before the first working session of the G20 Summit in Constantine Palace in Strelna near St Petersburg, Sept 5, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]
US President Barack Obama (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during arrivals for the G20 summit at the Konstantin Palace in St Petersburg, Sept 5, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]
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.