President Cyril Ramaphosa doubled down on South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme of ‘Equality, Solidarity and Sustainability’ in an address to the B20 on the eve of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, which is being boycotted by the US and which has been strongly critical of the theme.

“South Africa embarked on its G20 Presidency determined to advance the principles of Equality, Solidarity and Sustainability.

“Over the course of the past year, most of the countries of the G20 have rallied in support of these principles, understanding that they are fundamental to our shared future,” Ramaphosa said in his B20 Summit address.

Although South Africa is due to hand over the G20 presidency to the US, President Donald Trump has withdrawn all American representation from the Johannesburg gathering.

In addition, the US embassy in Pretoria has informed the South African government that it is opposed to the issuance of any G20 summit outcome document, as South Africa’s G20 priorities run counter to US policy views.

In February, Secretary of State Marco Rubio linked South Africa’s theme to ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ and climate change, which have all been rejected by the Trump administration, and said he would not “coddle anti-Americanism”.

However, Ramaphosa commended the B20 for having imbued the principles of equality, solidarity and sustainability with meaning and relevance.

“The B20 could not have been clearer: the global business community is prepared, willing and able to drive inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth.

“The global business community has made itself a reliable partner, keen to work with governments, with multilateral bodies, with social partners and with communities in pursuit of the common good,” Ramaphosa said.

He also used the address to call for interventions to address Africa’s debt, reduce the high cost of capital faced by African countries, increase concessional funding from multilateral development banks, address biased risk perceptions of the continent, reinforce multilateralism, build infrastructure and skills, unlock critical minerals, expand lower-cost funding for the continent’s transition towards a low-carbon economy, and increase trade and investment inside Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world.

“If the G20 is to realise its mission of fostering a more stable and prosperous world, then Africa’s growth and development must be a priority.

“This calls for investment in infrastructure and industry. It calls for investment in people and technology. It calls for a massive increase in finance for climate action and a just transition for African economies,” Ramaphosa said.