South Africa Launches Its First G20 Engagement Emphasizing Unity, Fairness, and Sustainability
Click to start listening
Johannesburg, Dec 9 (NationPress) South Africa initiated its first Group of 20 (G20) engagement on Monday under its presidency that commenced on December 1, thereby establishing the framework for its leadership role.
During the opening session of the inaugural G20 Sherpas Meeting in Johannesburg, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Raymond Lamola presented South Africa's objectives aimed at promoting collective global goals through significant priorities.
In his speech, Lamola underscored the theme of South Africa's presidency, "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability," and focused on essential goals such as enhancing disaster resilience, tackling debt issues faced by low-income nations, and mobilizing resources for a just energy transition.
"We will tackle these issues through our high-level deliverables and priorities, which are central to the original G20 mission of fostering robust, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth, while creating partnerships across all sectors to discover collective solutions," he stated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Lamola acknowledged the crucial role Sherpas play in actualizing the commitments made by G20 leaders into actionable collaboration. "The first Sherpas Meeting of the G20 carries significant traditional importance, as it lays the groundwork for the forthcoming presidency and the vital discussions on some of the most pressing issues of our era," he remarked. "In the spirit of Ubuntu, our shared humanity, we will confront these challenges through our high-level deliverables and priorities."
He reiterated the necessity for South Africa's presidency to connect the Sherpa and Finance tracks, announcing the creation of three temporary task forces, an initiative, and a commission. These entities will concentrate on priorities such as inclusive economic growth, industrialization, job creation, reducing inequality, food security, artificial intelligence, data governance, and innovation for sustainable development.
The minister further stated that South Africa's G20 presidency would "emphasize" the significance of upholding universal values and fortifying multilateral institutions. "Now more than ever, multilateral institutions must be strengthened and reformed to foster broad global consensus and serve as platforms for resolving disputes."
He also mentioned that multilateral institutions focusing on economic and developmental mandates should be empowered, "as the need for their intervention is even more pronounced now."
Lamola confirmed South Africa's commitment to aligning its G20 initiatives with the African Union's Agenda 2063, a strategic framework aimed at Africa's socio-economic transformation.
Recognizing challenges such as divisive geopolitics, climate change, sluggish economic growth, and escalating poverty, Lamola urged the G20 to prioritize practical and mutually beneficial collaboration. "The G20 must advance in establishing practical, mutually advantageous cooperation that supports a fairer, more just, inclusive, and representative international order," stated Lamola.
Sherpas, serving as personal representatives of G20 leaders, manage negotiations, outline the agenda for the 2025 G20 Summit, and coordinate preparatory efforts. The Sherpas Meeting, which is set to continue until Dec. 10, will be succeeded by the Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting scheduled for December 11-12.
