Pretoria – Several heads of state have begun arriving in Johannesburg ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit, which opens on Saturday and concludes on Sunday. South Africa is hosting the gathering as current chair, although the United States, which is set to assume the presidency next, will not be represented at the level expected.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive on Friday, joining leaders who have already landed, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is also in Johannesburg and is due to brief the media on Friday before the summit begins.
The G20 brings together 19 countries, the European Union and the African Union to address key global issues ranging from economic stability to development and trade. Months of preparatory meetings have led to this weekend’s gathering, where members aim to produce a declaration outlining agreed priorities.
Albanese told reporters shortly after his arrival that the G20 remains central to Australia’s economic interests. He said the forum represents most of the global economy and a significant share of world trade, adding that a large portion of Australian jobs rely on international commerce.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has maintained that the G20 process is continuing steadily despite the absence of the United States. His remarks follow comments by US President Donald Trump, who previously threatened to block any joint declaration.
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