G20 Leaders' Summit | Cooperation, Collaboration and Partnership: Pres Cyril Ramaphosa

In his address to G20 leaders, South African President Sraaposa highlighted the country's efforts to maintain the integrity of the G20 during its presidency, marking the first time an African nation has held the role. He urged a renewed global commitment to addressing inequality, emphasizing the developmental priorities of the global south and Africa as essential for poverty alleviation, and stressed that South Africa has successfully embedded these issues permanently on the G20 agenda for broader global benefit. The speech also addressed the need for reforming the international financial architecture to make institutions more inclusive, strengthened, and capable of handling current and future challenges, with G20 leaders set to discuss the global debt crisis over the next two days. President Sraaposa, echoed by President Roa, called for upholding the G20's stature and credibility, particularly in response to the United States' decision to send a junior embassy staff member for the presidency handover, which he viewed as an attempt to diminish the significance of Africa's inaugural G20 presidency. He emphasized the summit's responsibility to reinforce rather than weaken the G20's integrity. The article notes curiosity about the US's approach when it assumes the G20 presidency next month, reported by Skeo of SBC News from Johannesburg.