On 18 March 2025, UNU, in partnership with the Embassy of South Africa in Japan, co-hosted the symposium “South Africa’s G20 Presidency: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability — a Conversation with Japan".
The event opened with remarks from UNU Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala. He underlined escalating global challenges, noting: “These issues are not abstract; they have tangible consequences for global cooperation, economic stability and the well-being of people everywhere."
“Addressing threats requires an approach to multilateral governance that ensures all voices, particularly those of the Global South, are part of shaping solutions. The theme of South Africa’s G20 Presidency speaks directly to these imperatives and captures both the mission of the United Nations and our work here at UNU.”
Ms. Eri Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, also welcomed participants, highlighting that this year marks the 115th year of cooperation between Japan and South Africa. Noting numerous examples of how this long partnership has benefited economic development, business, sport and youth exchange, she stressed that “cooperation between Japan and South Africa is more important than ever” to pool knowledge and technological expertise and overcome compounding global challenges.
Ms. Arfiya also pointed to this year’s Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) and Japan’s commitment to “relaying the achievements of TICAD 9 to the success of the G20 Johannesburg Summit”.
Ms. Anna Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, introduced the event’s keynote speaker, H.E. Mr. Paul Mashatile, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa. She extended sincere thanks to event participants and organizers, and emphasized: “We are truly hououred to participate in this symposium."
Deputy President Mashatile’s keynote speech began by conveying deep appreciation for more than a century of cooperative and diplomatic ties between South Africa and Japan.
“These ties have particularly flourished in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology, and education and skills development assistance ... We have a lot in common as a people, hence we will continue to invest in people-to-people cultural exchange programmes.”
He emphasized that now is the time to fortify this partnership, “especially in light of the present geopolitical challenges confronting our nations and the global community. We want our two nations to collaborate with a particular emphasis on promoting inclusive economic development and ensuring a balance and increase in trade between the two nations”.
Continuing on the theme of partnerships, he stated the need for collaboration on "coordinated preventive action including a dedicated intervention on peacebuilding that is programmatic in nature". He expressed encouragement regarding a potential partnership between UNU and the University of South Africa "to co-design and co-deliver required capacity-building programmes for African leaders and mediators for resolving conflicts and blazing a path towards achieving peace, security and prosperity".
The Deputy President then transitioned to South Africa’s G20 Presidency and the challenges it must confront due to “tectonic shifts in global affairs”. He outlined details of the four priorities for the G20 presidency: strengthening disaster resilience and response; ensuring debt sustainability for developing economies; mobilizing finance for a just energy transition; and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
He punctuated his keynote with a call to leverage the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and the digital economy, but to “navigate this vast landscape with wisdom, thoughtfulness and responsibility, ensuring no one is left behind”.
The Deputy President concluded with a message of collaboration: “Under the guiding principle of Ubuntu — the profound belief that 'I am because you are' — we are reminded of the interconnectedness of humanity. It is this principle of Ubuntu that underpins South Africa’s leadership and vision for our G20 Presidency.”
The symposium continued with a panel session moderated by Rector Marwala and including four cabinet ministers of South Africa: Mr. Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture; Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, Minister of Higher Education; Mr. John Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture; and Mr. Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
The panellists discussed a wide range of issues such as South Africa's key economic goals within the G20; how South Africa is integrating education and skills development into its G20 agenda; the power of cultural exchange and sports diplomacy for international cooperation; and how Japan and South Africa can collaborate to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The panel then invited the audience to ask questions, which spanned topics including how South Africa is addressing conflict dynamics surrounding extraction of critical minerals and natural resources, and how South Africa plans to increase financing for energy transitions in the context of shifting global financing priorities.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Ms. Annelize Schroeder, Charge d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Japan. She extended warm thanks to the Deputy President, the United Nations University, the Government of Japan, speakers, panellists, attendees and everyone who made the event possible.
She made special note of how the event uniquely spotlighted the parallels of South Africa’s goals for its G20 presidency and Japan’s goals for TICAD — a fitting overlap as this will be the first time the African Union participates in TICAD as a permanent member of the G20.
The event was followed by a networking reception featuring South African food and drinks.
