The first G20 summit in Africa issued a leaders' joint declaration on the opening day of the talks rather than at the end of the summit. The declaration was significant in that it came in the face of fierce opposition from the US which has for months been critical of a South African agenda for the group that largely focused on climate change and global wealth inequality.

G20 leaders back South Africa’s early declaration despite a U.S. boycott, highlighting global divides on climate and inequality.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA | TASS | In an joint declaration, adopted during the summit in Johannesburg, leaders of the Group of Twenty (G20) said they were determined to increase the role of the African continent in the group and in global processes in general.

Meeting ahead of the G20 summit, EU and South Africa leaders discussed bilateral topics and welcomed new clean trade and investment opportunities and cooperation on energy and critical raw materials.