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President Ramaphosa Outlines SA's G20 Priorities: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainable Development

15:48, 22 January 2025

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For the first time in its history, the G20 is being hosted on the African continent following the admission of the African Union as a member of the group, the South African president reminded the World Economic Forum, stressing the importance of his country's chairmanship of the G20.

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South Africa will focus its G20 presidency on three themes: solidarity, equality, and sustainable development, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated in a special address at the World Economic Forum in Swiss Davos on Tuesday.

"It is South Africa’s firm view that these themes can best be taken forward through the collective actions of institutions like the G20 and various multilateral institutions of the world, especially the United Nations, the WTO, and global financial institutions, which should be reformed and be more representative and responsive to the needs of the citizens of the world," the South African top official said.

The president stressed the need for solidarity to ensure no person or country is left behind in the pursuit of progress, echoing Nelson Mandela's call for a global offensive for development and human survival.

"The rights and freedoms of one people cannot be separated from the rights and freedoms of all peoples. This is the foundation on which solidarity is built," he noted, adding that the pursuit of equality and the practice of solidarity cannot be separated from sustainable development.

As the G20, South Africa needs to coordinate efforts to focus on inclusive growth, particularly for developing nations of the Global South, and ensure equality and prosperity for all nations, Ramaphosa emphasized.

"In addition to huge gaps in economic capabilities and levels of human development, countries of the Global South face a lack of predictable financing for development and climate change, high levels of debt, and vulnerability to pandemics. Debt sustainability for low-income countries is one of the four priorities of South Africa's G20 presidency," the leader also pointed out.

South Africa took over the rotating presidency of the G20 from Brazil on December 1, 2024, for a period of 12 months. President Ramaphosa then pledged to use the opportunities of the G20 presidency to focus the group's attention on the development of the African continent and the Global South.

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