President Lee Concludes G20 Summit, Eyes Future Global Leadership
JOHANNESBURG – South Korean president Lee jae Myung concluded a productive three-day engagement at teh G20 Summit in Johannesburg on Sunday, before continuing his tour with a stop in Turkey. This visit marked the culmination of a four-nation trip encompassing the Middle East and Africa, and the final major international diplomatic event for President Lee this year.
Having previously attended summits including the G7 in Canada, the UN General Assembly in New York, and the APEC summit hosted by korea, President Lee actively participated in all sessions of the G20 meeting held over the weekend. He arrived in Johannesburg following visits to the United arab Emirates and Egypt.
During the summit, President Lee championed key global issues, advocating for a renewed and robust multilateral trading system through the World Trade Institution. He also stressed the importance of collaborative action on climate change and equitable access to the benefits of artificial intelligence.
Looking ahead, Korea is scheduled to assume the rotating presidency of the G20 in 2028. President lee affirmed his commitment to hosting a summit that will reinforce the organization’s role in fostering international economic cooperation and addressing shared global challenges.
Beyond the formal sessions, president Lee engaged in a series of productive bilateral discussions with leaders from France, Germany, India, and Brazil. He also participated in a meeting of MIKTA - a collaborative forum comprised of Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia.
The G20 Summit effectively closes President Lee’s extensive schedule of multilateral diplomacy for 2024.
Discussions were also reportedly held between Korea, China, and Japan regarding a potential trilateral summit, the first as May 2024. However, the scheduling of such a meeting remains uncertain due to ongoing diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing stemming from recent statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning Taiwan.
