Director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said South Africa’s G20 presidency highlighted the importance of trade within WTO rules and reforming the system through local mineral beneficiation
South Africa’s presidency of the bloc placed the development needs of the continent, small island states and other vulnerable regions firmly at the centre of the G20 declaration
The minister in the presidency said Washington would have to account to other members if it blocked South Africa’s participation in the G20 next year
The building doubles as an events venue, but more importantly, it stands as one of Johannesburg’s most quietly enduring landmarks
The president had denied that Wicknell Chivayo has been dolling out lavish gifts on his behalf
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said since the US had assigned a chargé d’affaires to the handover, an equivalent level official would represent South Africa
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said countries understood ‘that there’s a bilateral issue between South Africa and the US, but that must not, in any shape or form, undermine or imperil the work of the G20’
President Cyril Ramaphosa told delegates that all G20 members except the US had signed the declaration
In an apparent reference to US President Donald Trump’s absence, Ramaphosa warned against allowing ‘anything to diminish the value, the stature or the impact of the first African G20 presidency’
The government said it would not be handing over the G20 presidency to any junior United States official