Thursday, November 29, 2018
President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Thursday, 29 November 2018, arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina where he is leading the South African delegation to the G20 Summit which takes place from 30 November to 1 December 2018.
President Ramaphosa is accompanied by the Ministers Lindiwe Sisulu of International Relations and Cooperation and Tito Mboweni of Finance.
Chaired by President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, the Buenos Aires gathering is the first G20 Summit in which President Ramaphosa will participate since being elected President in February 2018. The Leaders’ Summit will be complemented by meetings of finance ministers from G20 member states.
Argentina assumed the G20 Presidency in November 2017, with a focus throughout this year-long term on “Building consensus for fair and sustainable development” – a theme that resonates well with President Ramaphosa’s own emphasis on the importance of consensus and collaboration in South Africa’s efforts to build an inclusive and sustainable economy and advance social cohesion.
The G20 was formed in 1999 to bring stability to the global financial system, promote long-term sustainable growth and strengthen global financial governance. However, it has since expanded its agenda beyond economic and financial issues to encompass geopolitical matters and issues of peace and security, global governance, environment and international terrorism.
The G20, which consists of the leading developed and developing economies, accounts for 85% of global Gross Domestic Product, 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population.
South Africa views the Summit as a platform from which to promote and strengthen interests of the African continent and of the South.
South Africa further views the G20 as providing meaningful opportunities for advancing global governance reforms and reorienting the international developmental agenda.
President Ramaphosa will in the course of this Working Visit hold bilateral meetings with various Heads of States to strengthen and deepen relations with partner countries and present South Africa as an attractive investment destination and trade partner.
Whilst in Argentina, President Ramaphosa will also Chair a BRICS Leaders’ Summit on the margins of the G20. This will be the final meeting of BRICS Leaders chaired by South Africa before Brazil assumes the Presidency on 1 January 2019.
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA