New york: International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has underscored South Africa’s leadership in the Group of 20 (G20), calling for greater solidarity, equality, and sustainability to drive inclusive global growth. Speaking at the International Peace Institute’s annual event, held alongside the 2025 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Lamola outlined South Africa’s priorities as the current G20 Chair.
According to South African Government News Agency, the longstanding partnership between South Africa and the International Peace Institute has led to the co-hosting of this year’s annual forum on Africa and the global order, focusing specifically on the G20. The Minister highlighted that South Africa’s G20 Presidency is guided by the philosophy of ubuntu and the UN’s principle of ‘Leaving No One Behind’, with the core theme being ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’.
Lamola emphasized that the four overarching priorities of South Africa’s G20 Presidency are designed to address challenges that undermine Africa’s growth, development, and aspirations for a prosperous future. These priorities include strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilising finance for a just energy transition, and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth.
The Minister urged G20 nations to act collectively, warning against normalizing exploitation, inequality, and poverty. ‘We have a shared responsibility to provide stewardship, to raise ambition, and to secure tangible outcomes for future generations,’ he stated. Lamola also highlighted recent multilateral efforts such as the Seville Commitment on financing for development and pointed to upcoming global meetings-COP30 on climate change and the World Summit for Social Development-as key platforms for advancing cooperation.
Lamola is expected to further participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the UN to continue shaping consensus on global economic challenges.