South African leader to promote African interests at G7

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - South Africa's president will promote the interests of the African Union and his country as a major investment destination during the upcoming G7 summit starting Sunday in France, his office has said.

In a statement, the Presidency said Cyril Ramaphosa would also embark on a working visit to Japan for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development Summit that would strengthen the partnership between Japan and African countries.

''The working visits will also provide a platform for President Ramaphosa and members of Cabinet to invite global partners to experience South Africa as an investment destination and trade partner, and to participate in the country’s efforts to secure faster, sustainable and inclusive economic growth and reduce unemployment,'' said the statement.

South Africa will be attending the G7 summit on the invitation of France which has invited major economies with regional influence as well as strategic African partners and key representatives of civil society. The focus for this year's summit is the reduction of inequalities prevailing around the world.

The G7 Summit is a forum of the seven countries with the world's most industrialized and developed economies. They include, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. Leaders of G7 countries meet annually to discuss important global economic, political, social and security issues.

The G7 Summit is expected to produce a range of declarations that will form the basis of action plans to address challenges and embrace opportunities identified during the deliberations in France.

On Wednesday President Ramaphosa will depart from the G7 Summit in France to Japan where he will participate in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development Summit.

South Africa and Japan enjoy good bilateral ties with more than 140 Japanese companies having investments in South Africa worth billions of dollars.

"South Africa views the partnership between Japan and the African continent as an enabler for infrastructure development and industrialisation throughout the continent," the presidency said.