President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged G20 foreign ministers to use their meeting in Johannesburg as a platform for strengthening collaboration between African nations and the rest of the world.
Speaking at Nasrec, where he welcomed top diplomats for their first gathering since South Africa assumed the G20 presidency, Ramaphosa highlighted the pressing global challenges requiring collective action.
“Geopolitical tensions, rising intolerance, conflict and war, climate change, pandemics, and energy and food insecurity threaten an already fragile global coexistence,” he stated. “These challenges are interconnected. They require responses that are inclusive and coordinated.”
South Africa’s G20 Priorities
Outlining South Africa’s four key priorities for its presidency, Ramaphosa emphasized the need for strong, sustainable, and balanced inclusive growth.
“Firstly, we should take action to strengthen disaster resilience and response. Climate-induced natural disasters affect countries worldwide,” he said. “But they have a particularly devastating impact on nations that cannot afford the costs of recovery and rebuilding.”
He called on G20 leaders to mobilize the global community, including international financial institutions, development banks, and the private sector, to scale up post-disaster reconstruction efforts.
Africa’s Voice in Global Affairs
As the first African country to lead the G20, South Africa has taken on the responsibility of advocating for the interests of developing nations. The presidency aims to encourage wealthier countries to listen to their less affluent counterparts and foster equitable decision-making.
Ramaphosa emphasized that hosting the summit in Johannesburg underscores the importance of amplifying African voices on critical global issues. “This is a significant opportunity to promote greater collaboration between African nations and the rest of the world,” he added.
The G20 presidency provides South Africa with a platform to shape international discussions on economic development, climate action, and global stability, ensuring Africa plays a more prominent role in global decision-making.