Johannesburg: President Lee Jae Myung attended the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is expected to pledge South Korea's active role in addressing key global issues, including inclusive growth and climate change.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this year's G20 summit, which continues through Sunday, gathers leaders of major economies under the theme, "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," with the notable exception of U.S. President Donald Trump. During this event, President Lee will participate in three sessions to emphasize South Korea's proactive approach to global challenges, focusing on artificial intelligence, inclusive growth, and economic policy, as stated by National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.
In the first session centered on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, President Lee plans to present South Korea's fiscal policy initiatives. He will propose measures such as reducing debt burdens on developing countries, restoring the multilateral trading system, and enhancing the effectiveness of development cooperation, according to the presidential office.
The second session will address global resilience, where President Lee will highlight the necessity of collaborative efforts to combat the climate crisis, improve disaster-response capacity, and tackle global food insecurity. He will also discuss Seoul's climate change initiatives and its contributions to disaster relief in developing nations.
The G20 consists of 19 advanced and developing economies, along with the European Union and the African Union. It accounts for 85 percent of global gross domestic product and approximately two-thirds of the world's population. Alongside the summit, President Lee will engage in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings.
He is scheduled to meet with leaders from MIKTA, a coalition of five middle-power countries including South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, and Australia, to explore ways to enhance multilateral cooperation on global issues.
Additionally, President Lee will hold separate discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen bilateral relations.
On Sunday, he will attend the third session of the summit and meet with Korean residents in South Africa. His itinerary concludes with a visit to Turkey on Monday, marking the final stop of his four-nation tour, which also included visits to the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.