South Africa to host two-day G20 foreign ministers' meeting with broad int'l presence

Foreign ministers from the Group of Twenty (G20) will gather in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 20 for a two-day meeting.

While all member states will participate, the level of representation will vary, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Speaking at a press briefing, South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, Xolisa Mabhongo, confirmed that 15 foreign ministers will attend the meeting, alongside four deputy foreign ministers.

The United States will be represented by the chargé d'affaires at the American embassy in South Africa.

Mabhongo also noted that several countries not part of the G20 have been invited to attend. These include Angola, Egypt, Spain, the Netherlands, the UAE, and Singapore.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will lead his country’s delegation at the event.

To recall, South Africa assumed the presidency of the G20, beginning its tenure on December 1, 2024, and held its first official engagement, the G20 Sherpas Meeting, in Johannesburg on January 15, 2025.

Under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability," South Africa aims to address key global challenges, including disaster resilience, debt relief for low-income countries, and resource mobilization for a just energy transition.

The presidency has introduced temporary task forces and a commission to focus on inclusive growth, industrialization, employment creation, AI governance, and sustainable development.

South Africa seeks to align its G20 agenda with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, prioritizing socio-economic transformation in Africa.

The presidency underscores strengthening multilateral institutions, promoting fairness in the international order, and fostering cooperative solutions to geopolitical, economic, and climate challenges.

The ongoing Sherpas Meeting will shape the G20 Summit agenda for 2025, followed by the Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting in mid-December 2024.

By Aghakazim Guliyev