BEIJING (Reuters/AP) - China is willing to work with South Africa to safeguard the multilateral trading system and promote the early implementation of zero-tariff treatment for South African goods, Premier Li Qiang said on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Li, in Johannesburg for the G20 leaders' summit, made the remarks during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The world leaders arrived on Friday for a historic first Group of 20 summit in Africa that aims to put the problems of poor countries at the top of the global agenda but has been undermined by a rift between host South Africa and the United States over a Trump administration boycott.
The weekend summit in Johannesburg will be attended by delegations from 18 of the world’s richest and top developing economies — minus the US, which has branded South Africa’s hosting a “disgrace ” and won’t participate in the talks.
The boycott by the world’s biggest economy and founding G20 member was ordered by US President Donald Trump over his claims that majority-Black South Africa is persecuting its white Afrikaner minority.
Strong US opposition threatens to undercut South Africa’s chosen agenda for the summit, where the host wants to focus world leaders’ attention on issues like the impact of climate change on the developing world, debt burdens for poor countries and widening global inequality.
The bloc has often struggled to put words into action due to the different priorities of members like the US, China, Russia, India and countries in Western Europe.
The G20 has expanded to 21 members, 19 nations plus the European Union and African Union, and is meant to bring rich and poor countries together to tackle problems, especially around the global economy.