The world should listen to “what Africa wants to say” and take its problems “seriously,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the Group of 20 (G20) countries, according to an official statement released in Beijing on Friday.
“We should listen to what Africa has to say, take its problems seriously, support Africa’s action, work for peace and development in Africa, so as to leave a distinct African footprint at the Johannesburg summit,” Wang said on Thursday, addressing G20 foreign ministers in the southern African city.
South Africa currently holds the G20 presidency from December last year to November this year. The two-day foreign ministers’ meeting was the first such G20 summit held in any African city as South Africa is the only African member of the bloc, which also includes European Union countries.
Last year, the African Union was added to the G20 as the 21st member. This year represents “an African moment,” Wang said, emphasising that Beijing “firmly” supports African people “independently solving African problems.”
Beijing “opposes” external interference in the internal affairs of African countries, Wang added.
