Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called for unity among G20 nations to build a just world of shared development. Speaking at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, Wang emphasized the importance of solidarity, equality, and sustainability.
“We need to strengthen the foundation of G20 cooperation through solidarity,” Wang stated. “We should seek common ground while shelving differences, refrain from division and confrontation, and oppose bloc confrontation.”
He urged major countries to play an exemplary role by promoting reform of the global economic governance system and increasing the representation and voice of the Global South. Wang highlighted the need to build an open world economy, jointly oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and advance inclusive economic globalization.
Wang also called for empowering the G20 on the basis of equality. “We should treat each other as partners rather than rivals, and see each other’s development as opportunities rather than challenges,” he said. China supports South Africa in establishing a task force on artificial intelligence and hosting a global summit on AI in Africa.
Focusing on sustainability, Wang encouraged the G20 nations to prioritize development and translate the spirit of multilateralism into concrete actions. He expressed China’s support for cooperation in areas such as disaster reduction, debt sustainability, energy transition, and critical minerals.
“Africa is undergoing a new awakening,” Wang noted. He called on the G20 to mobilize more development resources to support Africa’s modernization efforts, including industrialization and infrastructure development. China is ready to work with its partners to advance ten partnership actions for modernization and empower Africa’s development through G20 cooperation.
