BRICS, the five-nation bloc of emerging economies, has decided to invite six countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, to join the organization next year.

The decision was made at the group's summit in the South African city of Johannesburg. It was announced on Thursday at a joint news conference by leaders of the five countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who chaired the summit, said the meeting reached a broad consensus to invite six countries -- Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- to join as official members on January first.

During the news conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping called the expansion of BRICS "historic."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who attended the summit online, also welcomed the expansion.

About 20 countries, including the six nations, have expressed desire to join BRICS. The group will reportedly continue talks with an eye toward further expansion.

China and Russia have been aiming to expand BRICS to use the bloc as a counterweight to the West.