President Cyril Ramaphosa concludes participation at G20 Leaders Summit in Bali

President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Wednesday 16 November 2022, concluded South Africa’s participation at the G20 Leaders Summit held in the Republic of Indonesia on 15 and 16 November 2022.
 
The G20 Leaders Summit in Bali was hosted by His Excellency President Joko Widodo, under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”.
 
The Summit gathered world leaders whose economies account for 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population where discussions centred on food and energy security, health, digital transformation and global infrastructure and investment.
 
President Ramaphosa addressed the working session on food and energy security where he expressed South Africa’s position that developed countries in the G20 need to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honour their financial commitments to developing economies.
 
The President further said South Africa will continue to contribute its fair share to the global climate change effort through a just transition that supports sustainable development.
 
On the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, President Ramaphosa acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict had exacerbated the rise of food , fuel and  basic necessities and the restricting of  trade further compounds the risk for global food price stability which is most felt by the developing economies.
 
In this regard, the President maintained South Africa’s stance that dialogue between the parties was the only path to resolving the conflict.
 
South Africa remains the sole African voice in the G20, and advocated for the African Union to join the G20.
 
President Ramaphosa called for continued G20 support for the African Renewable Energy Initiative as a means of bringing clean power to the continent on African terms.
 
South Africa welcomed the launch of the Pandemic Fund, of which it made a commitment to contribute to, at the working session on Global Health Architecture to respond quickly and effectively to the next pandemic.
 
The Pandemic Fund will enable collaboration, priority setting, pooling of resources, technology transfer and the research and development of medical countermeasures.
 
To improve the work of this important entity and expand the representation of lower-income countries, South Africa called for regional organisations to be invited to join the Task Force.
 
South Africa further supports the extension of the mandate of the G20 Joint Finance-Health Task Force.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the two day G20 Leaders Summit in Bali held bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Government on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit to cement diplomatic, economic and cultural ties.
 
On Tuesday, 15 November 2022, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Peoples Republic of China, His Excellency President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders affirmed the special strategic relationship between the two countries. The nations committed to grow the blossoming relationship with increased Chinese investment in infrastructure and bilateral trade.
 
The Leaders affirmed a collective position on resolving global challenges through multilateral institutions. President Ramaphosa welcomed President Xi on His Excellency’s support for China to hand over the chair of BRICS to South Africa in 2023, which coincides with 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The two Leaders expressed support and agreement on the proposition of a permanent G20 African Union membership.  South Africa and China consent on seeking commitments from developed economies to fulfil their Paris COP21 climate agreements. The two nations further committed on more ambitious climate action goals.
 
On Wednesday, 16 November 2022, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Netherlands, the Most Honourable Mark Rutte. President Ramaphosa welcomed the support from Netherlands on the South Africa Just Energy Transition- Investment Plan (SA JET-IP). The President further emphasised that for the plan to be realised South Africa will call for increased grant funding of SA JET-IP. South Africa and Netherlands have a diverse and substantial historic partnership, which remains strategic to date. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to continue the discussions on a working visit that the Netherlands will undertake to South Africa.
 
Following the engagement, still at the margins of the G20 Leaders Summit, President Ramaphosa held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, the Most Honourable Lee Hsien Loong. The Leaders committed to growing trade relations between the two nations. South Africa is Singapore’s largest trading partner in Africa.
 
The bilateral meeting is preceded by the Official Visit to Singapore undertaken by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation , Dr Naledi Pandor, in July 2022, during which she also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
 
South Africa's exceptional relations with Singapore are focused on trade and investment promotion as well as collaboration in science and innovation, skills development, vocational training, port innovation and infrastructure development.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa was accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, and Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana. 
 
Media enquires:
Vincent Magwenya
Spokesperson to the President
Cell: 082 835 6315

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