JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is gearing up to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg later in November.
The event marks an important moment for the country as African issues will be highlighted on the global stage.
Cabinet reports that all preparatory meetings, including those for Finance Ministers and Working Groups focused on labour, trade, and innovation, have been successful.
At the same time, the country is working to strengthen important bilateral relationships.
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says South Africa’s relationship with the United States is strong and strategic.
Ongoing trade talks show a commitment to enhancing cooperation.
Ntshavheni said, "The US-South Africa relations have nothing to do with the G20. The G20 is a multilateral platform with countries, the top 20 countries in the world, being part of that formation."
"So South Africa has its own bilateral relationship with the US, and we have indicated that we deem that relationship as strategic and as important to us."
"They are one amongst our leading trading partners, so that's why we want to cement those and to demonstrate the commitment of both sides to the relationship. That's why the negotiations are continuing."
She said, "There are other countries that have not been given any room to engage with the USA."
"We have been given room to engage, and there have been improvements. And you will recall, we explained that even the negotiations on AGOA, they progress."
"So our relationship with the US is solid. Like any partners, there will be differences here and there, and but those differences do not make the sun stopping from rising from the western setting in the east," Ntshavheni said.