Ramaphosa concludes G20 trip
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa concluded his visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the weekend where he led South Africa’s delegation to the G20 summit.
The G20, which accounts for 80% of global gross domestic product, was formed in 1999 to bring stability to the global financial system, promote long-term sustainable growth and strengthen global financial governance, and has since expanded its agenda beyond economic and financial issues to encompass geopolitical matters and issues of peace and security, global governance, environment and international terrorism.
The summit was chaired by Argentina’s President, Mauricio Macri, under the theme “Building consensus for fair and sustainable development”, which Argentina selected for its year-long presidency of the G20. Following this summit, Japan will assume the G20 presidency.
Before the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Ramaphosa chaired an informal meeting of BRICS leaders as part of securing alignment among Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as emerging economies in their contribution to the G20 summit.
The BRICS leaders exchanged views on international political, security and global economic-financial issues, as well as challenges facing sustainable development.
The leaders recommitted themselves to a world of peace and stability, the central role of the UN, the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and respect for international law, the promotion of democracy and the rule of law.
They also reiterated their commitment to working together to strengthen multilateralism and promote a fair, just, equitable, democratic and representative international order.
BRICS heads of state and governments deplored continued terrorist attacks, including against some BRICS countries, and condemned terrorism in all forms and manifestations. The leaders called upon all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, including all the elements identified in the Joburg Declaration.
During his visit to the Argentinian capital, Ramaphosa held a number of bilateral meetings with heads of state and governments, as well as UN Secretary-General António Guterres and AU chairperson and Rwanda President, Paul Kagame.
In these meetings Ramaphosa engaged his counterparts on various forms of co-operation, including the deepening of trade and investment that is expected to contribute to job creation in South Africa and the achievement of sustainable growth.
Some of these engagements centred on the role South Africa will play in the multilateral arena when it assumes a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2019-20 – the third time it will do so.
Yesterday, Ramaphosa participated in the Global Citizen Festival in Joburg, which forms part of the global observance of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela.