We need more than 16 Days of Activism to end GBV
CHINESE President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa committed to work together at the G20 Leaders Summit held in the Republic of Indonesia on November 15 and 16.
The G20 Leaders Summit in Bali was hosted by His Excellency President Joko Widodo, under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”.
The summit grouped world leaders with the notable exception of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose economies account for 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. The summit discussions focused on food and energy security, health, digital transformation, infrastructure and investment.
“We meet at a time of momentous changes unseen in a century, changes that are consequential to the world, to our times, and to history. The Covid-19 pandemic still drags on with cases surging here and there. The world economy is getting more fragile. The geopolitical environment remains tense.
“Global governance is seriously inadequate. Food and energy crises are compounded with one another. All this poses formidable challenges to our development,” Xi said in his speech to the summit.
To address these challenges, Xi said it was imperative that all countries embraced the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and advocated peace, development, and win-win co-operation. All countries should replace division with unity, confrontation with co-operation, and exclusion with inclusiveness.
“All G20 members should take the responsibility inherent in being major international and regional players, and should lead by example in promoting the development of all nations,” he said.
Ramaphosa said in his speech to the working session on food and energy security that developed countries in the G20 needed to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honour their financial commitments to developing economies. As a quid pro quo, South Africa would continue to contribute its fair share to the global climate change effort through a just energy transition that supports sustainable development.
In his bilateral meeting with Xi, the two leaders affirmed the special strategic relationship between the two countries. The nations committed to working together to promote increased Chinese investment in infrastructure and bilateral trade. The two presidents reaffirmed their collective position on resolving global challenges through multilateral institutions.
In that respect, Ramaphosa welcomed Xi’s support for China to hand over the chair of BRICS to South Africa in 2023, which coincides with 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The two leaders also expressed support and agreement on the proposition of a permanent G20 African Union membership. South Africa and China consented to seeking commitments from developed economies to fulfil their Paris COP 21 climate agreements.
The two nations further committed to more ambitious climate action goals.
China stands ready to consolidate political mutual trust and promote even greater development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa.
In that respect, as South Africa’s largest trading partner, China’s continued development will provide more opportunities for South African exporters. Ramaphosa thanked China for its generous help to South Africa and other African countries on its Covid-19 response, and being among the first countries to help African countries ease their debt problems. South Africa hopes to learn from China’s experience in green development and energy transition.
China is expected to add 100 Gigawatts, or around double Eskom’s existing capacity, of solar power this year, according to the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute.