Africa has made a significant contribution to strengthening the G20 agenda by bringing to the table issues of concern to the global majority. Moscow expects that South Africa’s presidency of the G20 will consolidate the achievements of the Global South. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this in an interview with Xinhua ahead of his official visit to China. The text was published on the Kremlin’s website.
Answering a question from Chinese journalists about mutual support between Russia and China on multilateral platforms and in the context of the Global South, Putin stressed that Moscow and Beijing support reforming the UN system, including the aspiration to give the Security Council a more democratic character “through the inclusion of states from Asia, Africa and Latin America among its members”.
The countries attach special importance to the protection of the UN Charter, “which is a significant instrument of consolidation for the Global South”. One result of their joint efforts was the General Assembly resolution on “Eradicating colonialism in all its forms and manifestations”, adopted on 4 December 2024.
“In the G20, together with like-minded partners, primarily from among the BRICS countries, we have focused the agenda on issues of concern to the global majority, strengthened this format through the African Union, and reinforced ties between the Group and BRICS,” the Russian president recalled.
According to him, Moscow expects that South Africa’s G20 presidency will consolidate the achievements of the Global South.
“We expect that by the end of their [South Africa’s] ‘watch’ the achievements of the Global South will be secured, making them a starting point for the democratisation of international relations,” Putin noted.
South Africa assumed the G20 presidency on 1 December 2024, which will last until 30 November 2025, after which it will pass to the United States. The main theme of this period, as announced by South Africa, is “Solidarity, equality and sustainability”. Before the end of its presidency, South Africa intends to hold more than 130 events in various formats. The key event of the period will be the G20 leaders’ summit, which will begin on 22 November in Johannesburg. (Africa Initiative/GSF)
