Johannesburg, South Africa - February 20, 2025 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday opened the two-day G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg, the largest city and economic hub of South Africa, where he called for multilateralism and the application of international law in resolving world crises. During his address at the first G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting under South Africa's presidency, Ramaphosa spelled out some of the world's biggest challenges and how they can only be resolved through unity, not division. "Geopolitical tensions, rising intolerance, conflict and war, climate change, pandemics and energy and food insecurity do threaten an already fragile global coexistence. These challenges are interconnected. They require responses that are inclusive and responses that should be well coordinated," he said. The South African president further asserted that the G20 needs to renew its efforts to advance debt sustainability with a particular emphasis on African countries - many of which are seeing their development being crippled by having to prioritize loan repayments. "We should take action to ensure debt sustainability for low-income countries. More than 3.3 billion people live in countries where interest payments of debt exceed the payments or expenditure that is made for education and health as well. The G20 needs to renew its efforts to advance debt sustainability, with a particular emphasis, yes I would say, on African countries," said Ramaphosa. With Africa playing a greater role in global development than ever before, and with the African Union now a full member of the G20, Ramaphosa said his priorities for South Africa's presidency wouldn't be just on debt sustainability, but also on other issues that African governments are concerned about, such as climate change and getting a fair deal for Africa's natural resources. Ministers and other high-level delegates are set to spend two days discussing a range of issues affecting the globe. South Africa said it was satisfied with the turnout despite the U.S. secretary of state's decision not to attend over ongoing tensions with the host. "We have a really good turnout in terms of the participation and some of our key BRICS partners, for example, India is at ministerial level, Brazil as well. So I think from a G20 ministerial level participation, we are quite satisfied with that," said Zane Dangor, director general of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Meanwhile the host nation said it has duly noted U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's decision to skip the G20's Finance Minister's meeting scheduled to take place in Cape Town next week. SHOTLIST: Johannesburg, South Africa - Feb 20, 2025 1. Various of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arriving at meeting hall for G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, taking seat; 2. Attendees; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president (starting with shot 2/ending with shot 4): "Geopolitical tensions, rising intolerance, conflict and war, climate change, pandemics and energy and food insecurity do threaten an already fragile global coexistence. These challenges are interconnected. They require responses that are inclusive and responses that should be well coordinated."; 4. Various of flags, attendees; 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cyril Ramaphosa, South African president (partially overlaid with shot 6/ending with shot 7): "We should take action to ensure debt sustainability for low-income countries. More than 3.3 billion people live in countries where interest payments of debt exceed the payments or expenditure that is made for education and health as well. The G20 needs to renew its efforts to advance debt sustainability, with a particular emphasis, yes I would say, on African countries."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 6. Attendees; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Various of attendees; 8. Various of officials arriving for meeting; 9. Attendees; 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Zane Dangor, director general, South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (ending with shot 11): "So we have a really good turnout in terms of the participation and some of our key BRICS partners, for example, India is at ministerial level, Brazil as well. So I think from a G20 ministerial level participation, we are quite satisfied with that."; 11. Various of attendees; FILE: Africa - Exact Location and Date Unknown 12. Various of rural houses, residents; 13. River, residents; 14. Worker engaging in industrial project. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]