G20 makes historic Africa debut as Global South urges fairer global governance

The 20th Group of 20 (G20) Summit opened in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday, adopting a declaration calling for more equitable global governance.

This is the first time the G20 summit has been held in Africa. Under the theme "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability" the two-day event highlights a pivotal moment for Africa as it seeks to elevate its role in global governance and advance development priorities shared by the Global South.

The 122-point "G20 South Africa Summit: Leaders' Declaration" emphasizes multilateral cooperation and calls for enhanced support to developing nations to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the summit by emphasizing the historic significance of hosting the event in Africa. The adoption of this declaration will send an important signal to the world that multilateralism can and does deliver results, he stated.

The swift adoption of the declaration on the opening day contrasted sharply with the position of the United States. Prior to the summit, the U.S. Embassy in South Africa formally notified the South African government that it would not participate and opposed any consensus-based outcomes without American approval. South Africa responded that by boycotting the summit, the U.S. had forfeited its voice in the proceedings and could not dictate terms.

The smooth adoption of the declaration demonstrates that countries are taking concrete actions to enhance cooperation and support multilateralism, South African Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told media later on Saturday.

The declaration reaffirms members' commitment to strengthening UN-centered multilateralism and identifies peace as essential to sustainable development. It also addresses four priority areas: enhancing disaster response, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, financing just energy transitions, and leveraging critical minerals for inclusive growth.

South Africa assumed the rotating G20 presidency on Dec. 1, 2024, becoming the first African nation to hold the position. The United States is scheduled to take over the presidency on Dec. 1, 2025.

G20 makes historic Africa debut as Global South urges fairer global governance

G20 makes historic Africa debut as Global South urges fairer global governance

G20 makes historic Africa debut as Global South urges fairer global governance

G20 makes historic Africa debut as Global South urges fairer global governance

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting