G20 Summit concludes: Ramaphosa hails success for multilateralism

The G20 Leaders’ Summit has ended in Johannesburg, with President Cyril Ramaphosa hailing it a success for multilateralism.

Ramaphosa says that by meeting during a time of significant challenges, the global Group of 20 has demonstrated its ability to still come together in pursuit of a better world.

Only the US, the incoming hosts, did not attend.

As the first G20 Summit to be held in Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the year-long discussions in more than 130 meetings across the provinces have achieved their goal of putting the continent and the Global South’s growth and development at the heart of the bloc’s agenda.

"This summit has taken place at a crucial time, as calls around the world grow louder for progress on the imperatives of our time, to end poverty in all its forms, to reduce inequality within and amongst countries, and to take urgent action to combat climate change."

He says the ability for G20 members to agree on a declaration during this summit demonstrates the value of the G20 as a forum that can facilitate joint action on issues of shared concern.

"More than that, it reaffirms our renewed commitment to multi-lateral cooperation and our recognition that our shared goals outweigh our differences."

With no US government leader in attendance, South Africa plans to officially hand over the G20 presidency to a US diplomat at the offices of the Department of International Relations in the coming week.