G20 summit to be held for the first time in Africa
The G20 summit, which is being held for the first time on the African continent, opened on Saturday in South Africa, with the participation of representatives of 42 countries and institutions, while the United States was absent due to strained relations between it and the host country.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the summit was an opportunity to strengthen partnership and cooperation between countries to find common solutions to global crises and problems.
During the opening session, Ramaphosa urged joint action to promote economic development and reduce the risks of climate change, stressing the need to launch investments in developing countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
He called for an end to poverty and unemployment, especially in the countries of the South, stressing that the summit holds the hopes of the African continent for achieving a better future.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the group was in danger amid the difficulties facing its efforts to address international crises, noting that it may be nearing the end of a cycle.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for ways to play a constructive role again in the face of global challenges.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that “unilateralism and trade protectionism are rampant… Many wonders what happened to global solidarity”.
The United States, which is absent from the summit because its priorities are against the agenda, is preparing to host the next G20 summit in 2026.
The chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in South Africa will attend the handover ceremony on Sunday, a level of representation Pretoria has deemed inadequate.
The G20 was established in 1999, following the economic crises of the late 1990s, and accounts for 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population.
