President Ramaphosa Highlights South Africa's G20 Priorities At WEF

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of South Africa's G20 Presidency and the country's economic priorities during a special address at the 55th World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

He shared that South Africa's G20 Presidency will focus on three main themes: solidarity, equality and sustainable development. Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa's commitment to promote a fair energy transition, supporting inclusive growth and addressing global inequalities.

"As a leading forum for international economic cooperation, the G20 plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on major international economic issues," Ramaphosa said, SA News reported.

He added, "This is a moment of great significance for South Africa, the African continent and the world in that it was in Africa where humans developed the capacity and the impulse for cooperation."

Ramaphosa spoke about the importance of cooperation in human development, noting its role in survival, social organization, and progress in technology and culture. He explained that the G20 was created to promote cooperation in tackling global challenges and emphasized that cooperation is the foundation of human civilization.

He also referenced former President Nelson Mandela's speech at the WEF 33 years ago, where Mandela spoke about the need for global unity in pursuing development, prosperity, and survival. Ramaphosa explained that South Africa's G20 Presidency is focused on promoting solidarity, equality, and sustainable development.

Ramaphosa said that South Africa believes these themes can be best advanced through collective actions by institutions like the G20 and other global organizations, particularly the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and global financial institutions.

He called for these institutions to be reformed to better represent and respond to the needs of people around the world. He expressed South Africa's goal of pushing the G20 to focus on increasing solidarity through collective efforts, ensuring that no person or country is left behind in the pursuit of progress.

Ramaphosa stressed that the rights and freedoms of one group of people are closely tied to those of all others, and this principle is the foundation of solidarity.

The president said that reducing inequality, as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, is both an economic and social necessity.

He emphasized that the G20 needs focused and coordinated efforts to promote inclusive growth, driven by responsive trade and investment, to raise the incomes of poor nations and the poorest people, while ensuring equal opportunities, particularly for women and young people.

Ramaphosa stressed that for nations to prosper, equality and prosperity must be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, race, religion, or economic status.