President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Summit. The Global Gathering takes place today and tomorrow. The President will address the top leaders in the world about the fight against hunger, poverty and global governance.
READ MORE: Summit Rio 2024
President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Rio de Janeiro
He will also, on behalf of South Africa, officially be handed the Presidency of the G-20 Summit. South Africa will take the reigns of next year’s conference.
Happy Birthday Mr President
Meanwhile: The President yesterday celebrated his 72nd Birthday with the accompanying South African delegation ahead of engagements at the Rio G20 Leaders Summit in the Federative Republic of Brazil. There was a cake to enjoy.
EU Talks
President Ramaphosa also met European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They held bilateral talks. The Presidency says the bilateral relationship between South Africa and the European Union (EU) is at a Strategic Partnership level.
MORE ABOUT: The United Kingdom supports South Africa with the hosting of the G-20 summit, next year on home soil
Spokesperson to the President, Vincent Magwenya says South Africa values the Strategic Partnership with the EU and recognises the contribution the Partnership makes towards South Africa’s national priorities, as envisaged in the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP).
“South Africa is the only African country, and one of ten countries globally, that has a strategic partnership with the EU,” said Magwenya.
He says the Strategic Partnership has also created a platform for South Africa and the EU to discuss regional, continental, and global challenges.
Who are the G-20 members?
According to a Media Statement, the G20 is the premier forum for global economic cooperation and global governance representing 85% of global gross domestic product (GDP), 75% of global trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. It is a vehicle for promoting effective multilateral cooperation by bringing together the world’s leading economies to ensure global economic stability and sustainable growth.
Magwenya added, “South Africa’s participation in the G20 therefore seeks to provide strategic direction in establishing a more equitable, representative and fit-for-purpose international order, in support of the main multilateral processes under the United Nations.”
The Presidency says the G20 is made up of 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Russia, Türkiye, UK and USA) and two bodies: the African Union and the European Union.
President Ramaphosa is accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
