JOHANNESBURG - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa opened a G20 summit in Johannesburg on Saturday by emphasising the need for "multilateralism" to confront "the threats facing humanity today".
His call was made to a room full of leaders from major economies around the world -- with the notable exception of US President Donald Trump, who boycotted the summit.
"The G20 underscores the value of the relevance of multilateralism," Ramaphosa said in an opening address.
Ramaphosa is confident that a Leaders' Declaration will be adopted.
He says most points have already been agreed to.
Ramaphosa says the adoption will send an important signal that multilateralism is still alive and well.
Ramaphosa says widening wealth and development gaps are the greatest threat to sustainable global growth.
It's a challenge his G20 presidency sought to tackle head-on.
He's called for breaking down economic, gender, racial, and geographic barriers that keep societies divided.
- additional reporting eNCA