South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has said he is looking forward to work with Lula Da Silva as Brasil prepares to take over the Presidency of the G20 in 2024 while building on the foundation laid by India.
In a statement released by his Spokesman, Vincent Magwenya on Sunday, the President who just completed his working visit to India to attend the G20 Leaders’Summit revealed that his country South Africa will assume the G20 Presidency in 2025.
Also, Ramaphosa welcomed the membership of the African Union (AU) in the G20, the premier forum for global economic, trade and financial dialogue for growth and sustainable development.
During the G20 Leader’s Summit held under the theme One Earth, One Family and One Future in New Delhi in the Republic of the India, the President acknowledged G20 member states who supported the AU’s inclusion.
Recall that South African advocated for the AU’s membership of the G20 during the 2022 summit in Bali, Indonesia, while appreciated India’s Presidency in hosting an inclusive summit and placing the interest of the global south firmly on the agenda.
“The participation of the AU will strengthen global economic governance and allow African countries to own and influence decisions on key issues”, Ramaphosa said.
On the margins of the New Delhi G20 Summit, South Africa participated in the EU-African Leader’s meeting attended by the Presidents of the European Council and Commission;
African Heads of State invited to attend the G20 summit; the African Union Commission (AUC); Heads of the IMF and the World Bank.
The purpose of the meeting was to amongst others discuss AU’s G20 membership; food security, grain and fertiliser supply and the reform of the global financial architecture.
South Africa used the summit to advocate for an enhanced and expanded Global Partnership for Sustainable Development to meet climate change commitments.
“South Africa welcomes the Indian Presidency’s efforts to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The achievement of the SDGs must remain at the centre of international financing discussions to ensure that finance is mobilised in sufficient quantities and of suitable quality to support development in low- and middle-income countries,” the President said.