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President Jacob Zuma will travel to the People's Republic of China to attend the Group of 20 (G20) Leaders' Summit, to be held in Hangzhou from 3 to 5 September 2016 under the theme: "Towards an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy."

Under the umbrella of this overarching theme, China, as the current President of the G20, identified specific priority areas that are aimed at addressing current global economic challenges and are intended to give a focus to the work of the G20 during 2016.

The G20 Leaders are  expected to discuss these specific priority areas during the Summit, namely: (i) Breaking a New Path for Growth, (ii) More Effective and Efficient Global Economic and Financial Governance, (iii) Robust International Trade and Investment and, (iv) Inclusive and Interconnected Development.

South Africa is a member of the G20, which consists of 19 countries plus the European Union (EU)-the 20th member. G20 members have been meeting regularly since 1999 to discuss global economic policy coordination. The G20 was conceptualised to stabilise and strengthen the global economy, by bringing together the major advanced and emerging market economies.

South Africa's priorities in the G20 for 2016 include strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, decent employment, efficient and responsive economic infrastructure, increased investment in infrastructure, reducing illicit financial flows through coordination of international tax, coordination of international financial regulatory developments and international coordination on development, which includes domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) and ensuring synergy with UN processes on the post-2015 development agenda and financing for development.

An important part of South Africa's G20 strategy is the outreach to Africa. As the only permanent African member of the G20, South Africa has used its participation to raise issues of concern to Africa with other G20 members.

In addition, development is an important priority for South Africa in the G20. In this regard, South Africa serves as a Co-chair of the G20 Development Working Group.

"Our participation in the G20 is to provide a strategic foresight in establishing an economic and international policy platform that will drive and negotiate the best possible outcomes for South Africa, Africa and the developing world,” said President Zuma ahead of the Summit.

Whilst in Hangzhou, President Zuma will have a bilateral meeting with His Excellency President Xi Jingping of the People's Republic of China as well as meet leaders of the BRICS nations, who annually meet on the margins of the G20 Summit.

It is also expected that a Trilateral Meeting between South Africa, Chad (Chair of the African Union) and Senegal (Chair of NEPAD) will take place on the sidelines of the Summit. President Zuma is also expected to interact with representatives of the Business 20 (B20).

Following the conclusion of the G20 Summit, President Zuma will travel to Guangzhou in Guangdong Province, where he will attend the "2nd Investing in Africa Forum" on 7 September 2016.

President Zuma will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and the Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan to the G20 and will be joined by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies and the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga for the 2nd Investing in Africa Forum after the G20.

Issued by GCIS on behalf of The Presidency