‘Maybe we would have run away…’, why did Ramaphosa say this to PM Modi regarding hosting G-20?

While hosting the G-20 summit for the first time in Africa, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa admitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the task was more difficult than anticipated. While opening bilateral talks in Johannesburg, he said that perhaps we would have run away.

In his opening remarks at the talks with the Indian delegation, Ramaphosa thanked New Delhi for its support in Pretoria assuming the presidency. Ramaphosa said laughingly, “Thank you for India’s support to South Africa in hosting the G-20. You should have told us it was such a difficult task, we might have run away.” Prime Minister Modi and other representatives present in the room also laughed at this comment.

‘We watched India’s leadership closely’
Ramaphosa said that South Africa has closely watched India’s leadership in 2023. He said, “We have learned a lot from your hosting of the G-20 and your hosting was wonderful. Our hosting is really very short.” Prime Minister Modi immediately replied, “Small is always beautiful.”

In his concluding speech, Ramaphosa said that India, Brazil and Indonesia have laid the foundation for South Africa’s G20 presidency. “We have learned a lot from what Indonesia, India and Brazil have done,” he said. “In many ways, what we are seeing here is based on the foundation established by these three countries in the global South.”

What did Ramaphosa say in his speech
The President further said, “Our agreement on a declaration during this summit reflects the importance of the G-20 as a forum that can facilitate joint action on issues of common concern not only to leaders, but to the people of the world. Moreover, it reaffirms our renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation and our recognition that our shared goals outweigh our differences.”

Ramaphosa thanked all G-20 members and invited guests for their presence and said their commitment has been vital in re-establishing the G-20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

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