Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
Mr. Philemon Yang
at the Group of 20 Sherpa Briefing
24 March 2025
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
I thank His Excellency, Mr. Zane Dangor, for joining us today to brief the General Assembly on the priorities of South Africa’s Presidency of the Group of 20.
South Africa’s chosen theme – “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability” – is a call of developing countries for a meaningful multilateralism that befits the world in which we live today.
I applaud South Africa for continuing to champion the cause of the Global South, particularly that of Africa.
Indeed, South Africa is the fourth consecutive Presidency of the Group of 20 from the Global South.
Its Presidency also marks the first time that the Group of 20 meetings are being held on African soil.
This is a powerful and symbolic opportunity to advance solutions to the socioeconomic and security problems confronting the continent.
I look forward to the ambitious outcomes of the Group of 20 Summit to be held in Johannesburg in November.
I am confident that these outcomes will advance the interests of the Global South in areas where action is most needed, such as:
- Sustainable development,
- Debt relief,
- Climate action, and
- Concessional finance, among others.
Excellencies,
The members of the Group of 20 have a fundamental role to play in the implementation of the Pact for the Future.
This is especially true in our efforts to reform the international financial architecture and mobilise the necessary financing for the Sustainable Development Goals.
In Action 49, the Pact urges the governing bodies of multilateral development banks to offer financing based on their own funds, fully implementing the recommendations made following the independent evaluation initiated by the Group of 20.
In Action 50, the Pact for the Future also calls for greater collaboration between the Group of 20, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the United Nations Secretary-General, with the aim of strengthening and improving the architecture of sovereign debt.
Furthermore, this Action also refers to the need to improve the Common Framework for Debt Treatment adopted by the Group of 20, to enable an effective, predictable, coordinated, swift, and orderly debt restructuring process.
Excellencies,
As we advance the implementation of the Pact, the Group of 20 will be critical to ensuring that inequities are addressed, more resources are provided and better terms for development lending are negotiated.
Today’s briefing offers an excellent opportunity to be informed about South Africa’s G20 presidency.
It is also an opportunity to foster transparency and synergies among the various international institutions within our multilateral system.
I thank the Sherpa once again for coming all the way to brief us on South Africa’s vision for the work of the Group of 20 this year.
I look forward to a productive and insightful meeting.
I thank you.
Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org
More Information and Updates : Website: YouTube: X (Twitter): Instagram: LinkedIn: Photo Repository: Bluesky; Weekly Highlights
