Media Statement

02 September 2020

Minister Pandor to lead SA delegation at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will lead the South African delegation at the extraordinary G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held virtually on Thursday, 03 September 2020, from 14h00 to 16h00 (South African time). Minister Pandor will be joined in the meeting by the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, and senior government officials.

The meeting, which will take place under the theme, “Strengthening International Cooperation Across Borders”, has been called by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, current President of the G20.

As was the case following the global financial crisis in 2008, and in line with the G20’s historical role of finding solutions to the globe’s most pressing challenges, the world will be looking to the G20 countries to lead and coordinate international efforts to counter the human and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At their Extraordinary Summit on COVID-19 held in March 2020, G20 Leaders tasked “relevant officials to coordinate closely in support of the global efforts to counter the pandemic’s impacts, including through proportionate border management measures in accordance with national regulations and to provide assistance where necessary to repatriate citizens.”

While border management is an essential element of national sovereignty, enhanced international coordination in the implementation, monitoring and phasing-out of cross-border measures in the future will amplify their impact and minimise disruptions on people and trade.

In this regard, the Saudi Presidency has called a meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers to assess lessons learned and to draw collective experiences for dealing with future pandemics.

It is expected that the G20 Foreign Ministers’ will, among other things, exchange national experiences and discuss the lessons learned from the cross-border management measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; enhance G20 coordination and possible areas of future cooperation, including the repatriation of nationals and treatment of third-country nationals; and consider possible ways to reinforce the overall preparedness framework for cross-border measures.

Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084