OPENING AND WELCOME REMARKS
G20 Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas
Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas of Invited Guest Countries
Sherpas and Representatives of International Organisations
Directors-General, Deputy Directors-General and Senior Officials from South Africa
Ambassadors and Excellences
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Welcome to the third G20 Sherpa Meeting under South Africa’s Presidency, held under the unifying theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.
It is with great pleasure that I extend my gratitude to the Troika members for their unwavering support. Though the US may not be present today, we have had at least two Troika meetings and also bilateral engagements in Washington.
I am delighted to report that our collective efforts are yielding significant progress. Out of 132 planned meetings, we have successfully hosted 70, with most Working Groups having completed their third sessions and many already engaged in the crucial process of negotiating their Ministerial Declarations for 2025.
Our discussions over the coming days are paramount. They provide a vital opportunity to refine our objectives, ensuring that the Working Groups’ priorities are robust, inclusive, and truly reflect the collective aspirations of the G20.
This meeting is also a critical platform to identify innovative approaches and delve into under-addressed issues of global importance, thereby genuinely enhancing the G20’s impact and its meaningful contribution to addressing emerging global challenges.
This meeting is also instrumental in building early consensus. Early and broad consultation is the bedrock of strong, actionable Ministerial and Leaders’ Declarations.
It is our collective responsibility as Sherpas to resolve any challenges that may hinder the successful finalisation of these declarations. We cannot allow any Working Group to fail to reach consensus.
During Session One, we will reflect on the G20’s contribution to the global development agenda and to fostering equitable global governance. We must recognise that “we cannot succeed unilaterally” and that “our collective challenges require strong multilateralism.” A pragmatic assessment of the current global landscape and the identification of practical solutions are essential. The unique experiences, knowledge, and perspectives brought by different countries through are invaluable for a richer understanding of problems and the development of comprehensive solutions.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for the Sherpas to have a discussion on topical geopolitical issues as part of their agenda. Although G20 is a forum for international economic cooperation, the G20 recognises that ongoing conflicts worldwide are detrimental to economic development and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As agreed during the first Sherpas meeting, under South Africa’s presidency, there is a specific working method for managing geopolitical issues. All issues around geopolitical issues will be addressed as follows:
- Dedicated Engagement: Only the G20 Sherpas, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Leaders will engage on these broader geopolitical matters.
- Technical Focus for Working Groups: The various working groups within the G20 will primarily focus on technical issues related to their specific mandates, rather than directly on geopolitical conflicts.
- Guiding Principles on Geopolitical Issues. South Africa’s guiding principles on its approach to geopolitical issues will emphasise its Commitment to UN Charter: The G20 will reiterates that all states must act consistently with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and comply with international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, in conflicts.
Distinguished representatives, you will recall that South Africa, as the 2025 G20 Presidency, introduced the “G20@20: A Reflection on Key Achievements and the Way Forward” initiative. This was a significant discussion point during the second Sherpa meeting in April 2025, where the G20@20 Review Roadmap was formally presented. The roadmap outlines a high-level, qualitative assessment of the G20’s progress against its key commitments and targets since its inception in 2008.
During this meeting, we will also hold a Joint Session with the G20 Engagement Groups. The meeting will conclude with an overview of the Presidency’s way forward, particularly concerning the participation of engagement groups and the upcoming Social Summit.
We will also discuss the outline of the G20 Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration. As Sherpas, our responsibility is critical in shaping this Declaration to meaningfully accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and address common global challenges. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is at a crucial juncture, and the G20’s collective influence and resources are more vital than ever to get back on track. The Leaders’ Declaration should reinforce the commitment to “strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth” as a fundamental driver for SDG progress, with a specific focus on reducing inequalities. As Sherpas, we must ensure that the Declaration outlines concrete and collective actions, with measurable targets where possible, rather than just aspirational statements.
The optimal participation from all delegations, coupled with overwhelming support for our ambitious agenda and envisaged outcomes, speaks volumes about the collaborative spirit currently at play.
The concrete proposals and recommendations we receive from delegations are invaluable. They contribute towards strengthening South Africa’s Presidency and thereby ensuring that our final outcomes are robust, inclusive, and reflective of a wide range of perspectives.
This level of engagement augurs well for achieving meaningful progress on the overarching key priorities of our Presidency namely:
➢Strengthening disaster resilience and response.
➢Ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries.
➢Mobilising finance for a just energy transition.
➢Harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Over the next three days, we are confident that these deliberations will be fruitful and continue to build on the progress we have already made across various working groups and engagement groups.
Thank you and welcome once again to the Sun City!