Johannesburg: The G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting commenced today in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking a significant milestone as the first G20 gathering to be held on the African continent. The two-day event operates under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainable Development,” bringing together foreign ministers and officials from member states, including high-profile representatives from Russia and Saudi Arabia.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting’s agenda includes discussions on increasing funding for developing countries to transition to clean and renewable energy, ensuring food security, addressing global economic challenges, and fostering international cooperation. In a precursor to the main event, a coordination meeting was held yesterday for African countries invited to the G20 ministerial meeting, initiated by South Africa. This meeting included participants from Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Angola, coinciding with Angola’s role as the rotating chair of the African Union.

The coordination meeting centered on advancing African priorities within the G20 agenda, especially considering South Africa’s presidency and the African Union’s recent accession as a full member of the G20. The G20, established in 1999, functions as an informal forum for finance ministers and central bank governors from key industrialized and developing economies, focusing on international economic and financial stability.

The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and two regional bodies, the European Union and the African Union. Collectively, these nations account for about 85% of global GDP, more than 75% of world trade, and approximately two-thirds of the global population.