Johannesburg: South Africa is on track to welcome and host Group of 20 (G20) leaders at the Johannesburg Summit this November, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola revealed.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Lamola spoke at a media briefing in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, emphasizing that progress has been made since December 2024 with 51 meetings convened to address urgent global matters. He acknowledged that while there are divergent views on certain issues, South Africa’s G20 presidency is receiving “overwhelming support.”
“The ongoing G20 discussions are aimed at advancing South Africa’s overarching priorities, namely: strengthening disaster resilience and response, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilizing finance for a just energy transition, and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development,” Lamola stated.
Lamola highlighted that South Africa’s G20 presidency reaffirms its strong belief in the importance of “multilateral cooperation.” He warned that “unilateral actions that undermine the rules-based order risk reversing decades of progress.”
The minister also noted the significance of discussions between China and the United States regarding the trade war, which took place over the weekend. “We’ve always maintained that there shouldn’t be unilateralism when it comes to trade. Where there are challenges, countries must engage. These are the two biggest economies. It’s important that they engage and find solutions,” he added.
The G20, an intergovernmental forum of 19 countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU), represents the leading economies of the world. It serves as a venue for addressing global economic challenges, enhancing international financial stability, and encouraging sustainable development. Established in 1999, the G20 was created to facilitate discussions among Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors regarding international economic and financial matters.