World leaders seal consensus at SA G20 Summit

The G20 Leaders Summit opened in Johannesburg on Saturday with the adoption of the Johannesburg Declaration by consensus, marking the first G20 meeting ever hosted on African soil. The announcement came during the opening session at the Nasrec Exhibition Centre, signalling that member states had reached agreement on key priorities after months of negotiations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed heads of state, government leaders, representatives of international organisations and regional blocs to the summit. He said, “The adoption of the declaration sends an important signal to the world that multilateralism can and does deliver. It sends a message of hope and solidarity and reaffirms our pledge to leave no person, no community and no country behind.”

The Johannesburg Declaration sets out the collective commitments of the G20 in areas such as global economic stability, sustainable development, climate action, disaster resilience, debt sustainability, investment in developing regions, food security and inclusive growth. The adoption by consensus indicates that all member states formally agree to the principles outlined in the declaration, providing a shared framework for international cooperation over the coming year.

Ramaphosa highlighted the significance of hosting the summit in South Africa, describing the location as the Cradle of Humankind, symbolic of shared origins and common humanity. He noted that the G20 had expanded its focus beyond macroeconomic issues to address global challenges in trade, health, education, science and technology, agriculture, energy, environment and climate change.

He said South Africa’s G20 Presidency had been guided by the theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability. “Through solidarity, we can create an inclusive future that advances the interests of people around the world who are at the greatest risk of being left behind,” he said. “By promoting equality, we strive to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for all individuals and nations. Sustainability involves meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Ramaphosa emphasised that South Africa had worked to ensure that the development priorities of Africa and the Global South were firmly included on the G20 agenda. He said global challenges such as inequality, unemployment, poverty, conflict, pandemics, food insecurity and energy insecurity threatened the future of all nations. He stressed the need for urgent progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The declaration also reflects several high-level priorities of South Africa’s G20 Presidency. These include strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilising finance for a just energy transition, and expanding investment in critical minerals and beneficiation. It also highlights commitments to inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, food security and responsible development of artificial intelligence.

Ramaphosa praised the Sevilla Commitment, adopted earlier this year, as a renewed global framework for financing development. He urged G20 members to use the framework to increase development investment in regions most in need. He also called for reform of the international financial architecture to make institutions more inclusive and capable of responding to emerging global challenges.

He commended the G20@20 Review, which provided an assessment of the group’s achievements and challenges. He also highlighted the work of the G20 Africa Expert Panel, led by former finance minister Trevor Manuel, which recommended global partnerships to unlock long-term, affordable finance for Africa. In addition, he welcomed the recommendations of the Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality led by economist Joseph Stiglitz, saying they would support renewed global efforts to reduce inequality.

Dignitaries present at the summit included heads of state and government from G20 member and invited guest countries, Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile, ministers, international organisation leaders and members of the diplomatic corps. Their participation underscored the global significance of the summit and the adoption of the declaration.

President Ramaphosa concluded by urging leaders not to weaken the credibility or impact of the first G20 presidency hosted in Africa. “This G20 Leaders’ Summit has a responsibility not to allow the integrity and the credibility of the G20 to be weakened. The adoption of the declaration demonstrates that cooperation and multilateralism remain relevant and capable of delivering meaningful outcomes,” he said.

As the summit continues, delegates are expected to discuss the implementation of commitments outlined in the declaration and finalise strategies that will guide international cooperation over the next year. The adoption of the Johannesburg Declaration signals a unified commitment by G20 leaders to address global challenges, advance sustainable development and promote inclusive growth for all nations.