ISTANBUL

The maiden summit of the Group of 20 (G20) nations on the African continent will enable the international community to “better heed” the voice of Africa, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Friday.

Li made the comments during a bilateral meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg, ahead of the G20 summit.

Many global and multinational leaders, envoys, representatives, officials, and policymakers will be hosted by Ramaphosa in South Africa over the weekend.

Li lauded South Africa for its presidency of the G20 summit.

The maiden G20 summit on the African continent “will enable international community better to heed the voices of African and other developing countries,” the Chinese premier told Ramaphosa, according to a video record shared by South Africa's president.

South Africa is the only African nation member of the world's top 20 economies -- G20. The African Union, a bloc of over 50 African nations, was added as another member last year.

In his comments, Ramaphosa sought to deepen political, diplomatic, and cultural ties with China.

It “is a great opportunity for our two countries to advance strategic objectives in trade, investment, industrialization, multilateral cooperation, and governance, while deepening political and diplomatic ties,” he said on US social media company X, after meeting with Li.

“We see China as very, very close friend of South Africa,” he added.

In 2023, China and South Africa marked 25 years of their diplomatic relations, and the bilateral trade has climbed to around $35 billion in recent years.

South Africa is the biggest exporter among African nations to China.

Li reached South Africa on Thursday, after paying official visits to Zambia and Russia.