”The gavel closes the summit and now moves on to the next presidency, the United States, where we shall see each other next year,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This formally concludes South Africa’s G20 Presidency, albeit without the usual customary pomp and ceremony. Traditionally, the wooden gavel is handed to the leader of the next country assuming the rotating presidency, in this case, the United States.

The two-day summit, which ended on Sunday, was held on the African continent for the first time.

However, due to differences with Pretoria over climate-related provisions and false claims about a so-called “white genocide,” Washington chose not to attend the historic gathering – the first G20 Leaders Summit ever held on African soil.

In his closing remarks, President Ramaphosa underscored that “prosperity begins in the cradle of humankind.”

“We have laid the foundation of solidarity; now we must build the walls of justice and the roof of prosperity.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa #G20SouthAfrica 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/wOUg3rQVo8

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“The greatest opportunity for prosperity in the 21st century lies in Africa. Harnessing that opportunity will require a strong partnership between Africa and the G20 and, indeed, between Africa and the rest of the world. Recognising our interconnectedness as a global community of nations, we have called for an end to conflicts and wars around the globe and for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace,” said Ramaphosa.

The G20 Leaders Summit in Africa will be remembered as not just a mere talk shop but a partnership amongst G20 countries to change the lives of the poor and the most vulnerable, Ramaphosa says.

”The G20 South Africa Summit Leaders’ declaration is more than words – it is a commitment to concrete actions that will improve the lives of people in every part of the world. Our agreement on a declaration during this summit demonstrates the value of the G20 as a forum that can facilitate joint action on issues of shared concern. More than that, it reaffirms our renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation and our recognition that our shared goals outweigh our differences,” he added.

G20 Summit | President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers G20 Leaders’ Summit closing address

Climate change, mobilising finance for a Just Energy Transition, and ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries were among the key resolutions contained in the declaration adopted by member states at the start of the summit.

With African countries adversely affected by global greenhouse gas emissions, President Ramaphosa said South Africa’s G20 Presidency has made progress in mobilising finance for a Just Energy Transition, insisting that climate-related disasters affect all countries, with the heaviest toll on poor African countries and the Global South.

”In this regard, South Africa introduced the High-Level Voluntary Principles for Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction and encouraged international collaboration to strengthen investment in preventing and responding to disasters. Climate change touches every nation, but its impacts are unevenly felt. That is why we have together pledged to increase the quality and quantity of climate finance to developing economies, to strengthen multilateral development banks, to support country platforms like the Just Energy Transition Partnership, and to unlock private capital,” he explained.

‘Successful G20’

French President Emmanuel Macron has commended South Africa for hosting a successful G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Macron, speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, says, “The first G20 Summit in our history on the African continent. It’s a great achievement, and I think South Africa can be proud of this achievement. Second, the African Union has a seat, which is very important and a great achievement as well for Africa as a whole.”

President Ramphosa also implored the other G20 partners to act with speed to ensure the declarations and the 2030 sustainable development goals come to fruition.