G20 Summit | President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers G20 Leaders' Summit closing address

The article is a closing statement from the South African G20 Presidency, likely delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, marking the first time the event was held on African soil. It expresses honor and humility in hosting and emphasizes placing Africa's growth and development at the core of the G20 agenda, highlighting Africa's potential as the greatest opportunity for 21st-century prosperity through strong global partnerships. Key priorities include calling for an end to global conflicts and achieving lasting peace amid rising demands to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and combat climate change. The summit addresses the debt burden on developing economies as a barrier to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with G20 pledges for support to low- and middle-income countries to foster reduced debt, increased public investment, and inclusive growth. Efforts focus on enhancing disaster resilience, introducing voluntary principles for disaster risk reduction, and scaling up post-disaster reconstruction, noting that climate-induced disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable nations. Progress was made in mobilizing finance for a just energy transition, including pledges to boost climate finance, strengthen multilateral development banks, support initiatives like the Just Energy Transition Partnership, unlock private capital, ensure energy security and access, and achieve deep greenhouse gas reductions. The statement reaffirms support for the G20 Critical Minerals Framework to drive sustainable development. Coinciding with the end of the first G20 cycle, a 'G20 at 20' review was conducted, recommending its continuation for global economic well-being. Building on presidencies of Indonesia, India, and Brazil, South Africa prioritized Global South issues for inclusive growth, reduced inequality, and sustainability. The Leaders' Declaration commits to concrete actions improving lives worldwide, underscoring multilateral cooperation and progress toward 2030 SDGs and the Pact for the Future. It uses a metaphor of building 'solidarity' into 'justice' and 'prosperity' to ensure no one is left behind. The summit concludes, passing the gavel to the United States for the next presidency in 2025, demonstrating the G20's capacity for joint action on shared global challenges.