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 said on Monday.
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, on Monday, Lamola said progress has been made since December 2024, with 51 meetings convened over urgent matters the world is grappling with.
He noted 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 said.
During the briefing, the minister was asked about various issues, including the fact that U.S. officials had stayed away from some meetings. “South Africa welcomes all G20 members who participate. The U.S. has got a right to decide its participation in any of the G20 meetings or not,” he said.
Lamola said South Africa’s G20 presidency reaffirmed its strong belief that “multilateral cooperation” was paramount, not optional. “Unilateral actions that undermine the rules-based order risk reversing decades of progress.”
The minister also welcomed discussions between China and the United States, which took place over the weekend regarding the trade war, noting that the talks were “in the interest of the world.”
“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. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
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