South Africa concludes ‘historic’ G20 foreign ministers’ meeting
South Africa successfully concluded the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting after extensive discussions on pressing global issues.
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, described the event as “historic” in a media briefing following the meeting, which took place in Johannesburg from Thursday to Friday, according to Xinhua news agency.
“The first G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under South Africa’s presidency was historic as it marked the first G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the African continent,” Lamola stated. He emphasized that the “very productive” gathering included high-level strategic discussions on the global geopolitical landscape and its influence on international cooperation.
The meeting endorsed South Africa’s G20 presidency theme of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability” and focused on key priorities such as strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income nations, mobilizing finance for a just energy transition, and utilizing critical minerals for inclusive growth.
“The South African presidency took note of the valuable discussions and contributions, which will shape our ongoing work in 2025,” Lamola said. “We assure you that all viewpoints shared will be considered as we continue our efforts throughout the year.”
The G20 ministers voiced concerns over the slow progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and stressed the need for urgent acceleration. They also reaffirmed their collective responsibility to fostering sustainable, resilient, and inclusive global growth within the multilateral system.
Regarding ongoing global conflicts, the meeting called for adherence to the principles of the UN Charter. The G20 reaffirmed its commitment to supporting peace efforts in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other regions facing crises.
The discussions also underscored the necessity of reforming international governance systems, including the global financial structure, the multilateral trading system, and international development banks.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his opening address on Thursday, urged world leaders to embrace inclusivity, cooperation, and reform as South Africa assumes the G20 presidency for the first time.
