The G20 summit in Johannesburg opened on Saturday with a firm call from the host nation to safeguard the group’s credibility and role, despite the shadow cast by the first-ever US boycott in the forum’s history.
South Africa has, however, secured crucial diplomatic backing from China for the assembly of the world’s wealthiest and leading emerging economies.
Members should “not allow anything to diminish the value, stature and impact of the first African G20”, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told the opening session, in what was seen as a veiled reference to Washington’s boycott and threat to veto the resolutions.
The event “carries the hopes and must reflect the aspirations of the people of this continent and of the world”, Ramaphosa said, emphasising the historic significance of the two-day summit for Africa.
The summit had “a responsibility not to allow the integrity and the credibility of the G20 to be weakened”, he added.
China has appeared to criticise the US stance, with Premier Li Qiang pledging to strengthen coordination on platforms such as the Group of 20.
