G20 Summit Opens in Johannesburg Without Key World Leaders
REPORTER:
Dazzling dance performances marked the opening of this year's G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where world leaders are set to gather over the weekend. But some key figures have chosen not to attend for the first time in the event’s history. Earlier this month, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin both declared they would send representatives instead. Meanwhile, the US will skip the summit completely, citing allegations of the South African government mistreating its white minority. Johannesburg says the summit will still get things done, even with these absences.
Ronald Lamola (SOUTH AFRICAN INT’L RELATIONS MINISTER):
You can call it whatever. Someone can call it a boycott, someone will call it non-attendance, but the reality is that they are not attending, they are not here. Our intentions are clear, is that we must achieve a leaders declaration in South Africa. Because the US is absent from the G20 as a member. Therefore, there’s nothing that precludes the members that are present to agree on a declaration.
REPORTER:
It’s the first time the diplomatic summit will be hosted in Africa, and the second year the African Union will attend as a permanent G20 member. With a growing presence at the summit and the absence of the three major powers, South Africa plans to seize the opportunity to set an Africa-centered agenda: climate disaster preparation, clean energy transition, and affordable debt solutions for low-income countries to pursue these projects, while continuing to supply critical minerals to the world.
Busisipho Siyobi (GOOD GOVERNANCE AFRICA):
How do we ensure that the people on the continent are benefiting from these minerals and how are they serving the current energy crises that we have respectively within the continent. As you know, I think the statistics around 600 million Africans live without electricity. So, how do we ensure that this transition is also able to speak to the development challenges.
REPORTER:
Still, some worry that without Washington’s attendance, the world’s largest economy, and historically a major financial backer of UN climate projects, it could be hard for other members to get the funding to meet those goals. But as US President Donald Trump has rejected South Africa’s agenda, the empty chair could actually give more room for other members to speak up.
Piet Croucamp (POLITICS PROFESSOR, NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY):
Look, Trump not coming to South Africa may be the best thing that could happen to the G20. Imagine him or even getting up on the stage here and doing what Vance has done in Europe when he arrived there and insulted each and every foreign leader sitting in that room. They would have dominated to the extent that I think the other more sane voices could have been drowned out.
REPORTER:
With so many top leaders missing out this time, Johannesburg will be looking to make the most of its historic hosting opportunity and achieve progress on some pressing issues for the continent.
Dolphine Chen and Irene Lin for TaiwanPlus.
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