The Group of Twenty (G20) summit is taking place November 22-23 in Johannesburg, northern South Africa.
Africa is hosting the G20 summit for the first time in its modern history. “We view this summit as a historic event, a confirmation of the strengthening of the global positions of South Africa, Africa, and the Global South,” the South African Foreign Ministry told TASS.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is chairing the two-day summit. All G20 countries except the United States are participating. The heads of state and government of 22 countries have been invited to Johannesburg to participate in various meetings and forums on the sidelines of the summit.
South Africa has chosen solidarity, equality, and sustainability as the founding principles of its G20 presidency, which began on December 1, 2024. In preparation for the summit, South Africa held over 130 meetings and sessions to develop ways to achieve its goals, codifying the decisions made in a joint final declaration.
The G20 (Group of Twenty) is an informal association of the largest economies, developed and developing countries, created in the fall of 1999 to coordinate the efforts of leading powers to maintain global economic stability. Over the years, the G20 has increasingly focused on geopolitical issues. G20 summits began in 2008. The G20 unites 19 countries (Australia, Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, China, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Turkey, France, South Africa, South Korea, and Japan), as well as the African Union and the European Union.
According to the World Bank, the G20 countries are home to two-thirds of the planet’s population and account for 80% of global GDP. The group’s activities are aimed at achieving global economic and geopolitical stability, creating conditions for sustainable growth, and reducing the risks of financial crises.
