ISTANBUL

Every country is entitled to charge its own development path, as "there is no single model that fits all," Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka told a session of the G20 leaders' summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday.

"There is no such thing called the best method. Cooperation must empower, not dictate. Cooperation must uplift, not create dependency," he said.

Gibran, while noting that this G20 summit is the first ever held on African soil, remarked that "this milestone" marks a "profound shift where the Global South is no longer a bystander, but a co-driver of global progress."

"Global growth must not only be strong, but also fair and inclusive to uplift each and every nation," he added.

Welcoming the G20s focus on sustainable finance, Gibran said "ambition must go further to close gaps and to pursue adaptation, mitigation and transition that is just and fair."

"The world needs financing that is more accessible, predictable and equal, especially for developing nations, through debt relief, innovatory financing, blended finance and green transition mechanism."

Emerging technologies such as crypto assets, digital tokens, including Bitcoin, may create both opportunities and risks, Gibran said, proposing the G20 initiate dialogue on intelligent economy.