As of November 20, 2025, Johannesburg is gearing up to host the first-ever Group of Twenty Leaders' Summit on African soil. From November 22 to 23, heads of state and government from the world's major economies will converge on South Africa to tackle a global "polycrisis" of slowing growth, climate shocks and rising debt.
Under the banner of Ubuntu – "I am because we are" – South Africa's G20 presidency champions a collective approach to "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability." It's a call to weave economic policies with social and environmental well-being, reflecting a philosophy that places communal progress at its core.
World Bank data show that this year global growth is set to be the weakest in 17 years outside of recessions. Forecasts through 2027 predict average annual growth of just 2.5% – the slowest since the 1960s. Within G20 economies, the IMF warns that medium-term growth prospects remain lukewarm, threatening efforts to reduce poverty and meet development goals.
Since 1990, extreme poverty has fallen from 2.3 billion people to around 831 million by 2025, thanks largely to booming economies in East and South Asia. But progress has stalled over the last decade, with diminishing returns as crises stack up.
Next week's summit in Johannesburg will be a litmus test for multilateralism, as leaders seek coordinated policies to reignite growth and share prosperity. With South Africa at the helm – and Ubuntu as the guiding star – the world will watch whether solidarity can turn the tide on a fracturing economy.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
