he G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, concluded on November 23 and adopted a leaders’ declaration on an “overwhelming consensus” among participating members. The summit also demonstrated structural changes in global governance.
The 2025 summit adopted a more pragmatic approach, focusing on areas with more chance of cooperation, from trade and investment, to finance and industrialization, and innovation and sustainable development, instead of divisive issues such as multilateralism, regional conflicts and political security.
As the first G20 summit held in Africa, more attention was paid to African issues. The declaration includes a dedicated chapter on partnerships with Africa, calling for enhanced support for the continent’s development.
The role of the Global South was also more prominent. Following the G20 summits hosted by Indonesia in 2022, India in 2023 and Brazil in 2024, the 2025 meeting marked the fourth consecutive summit held in a developing country, reflecting the growing willingness and influence of the Global South to shape global governance.
Beginning early this year, the US stepped up criticism of South Africa over various issues. Senior US officials skipped major G20 ministerial meetings, including the foreign ministers’ and finance ministers’ gatherings.
On November 8, the US announced that it would not attend the summit and pressed the host country not to issue any leaders’ declaration in the US’s absence. This marked the first time that a major power has opted for a complete boycott and zero participation. The G20 is facing an unprecedented risk of fragmentation.
Behind this episode lies a deeper truth: Today’s world is grappling with multiple, overlapping tensions. East-West strategic competition, North-South development gaps and internal social divides, which make reaching a global consensus much more difficult.
Yet the greater the global fragmentation, the more indispensable effective global governance becomes. Against the backdrop of multiple transnational challenges, no country can tackle any of them alone, and the international community must therefore overcome prejudices and strengthen cooperation.
To move forward, the G20 should focus on three priorities. First, countries must seek common ground while managing differences. Only by enhancing mutual trust and returning to the path of dialogue can the political foundation of global governance be stabilized.
Second, existing multilateral mechanisms should be strengthened rather than weakened. The US absence did not halt the summit, nor did it prevent members from achieving results. This demonstrates the relative autonomy of global governance mechanisms, indicating that defending multilateralism and openness remain shared interests of participating countries.
Third, the rise of the Global South should be recognized as a positive force in international affairs. As Western powers increasingly turn inward, developing nations have more space and the responsibility to shape global governance. And now the Global South has proved it possesses both the capability and the vision to play a greater role.
The Johannesburg summit ultimately underscores a clear message: despite divergences, cooperation remains the only viable path for addressing global challenges.
By consolidating consensus, advancing reform and upholding multilateralism, the international community can steer global governance toward greater stability, fairness and effectiveness at a pivotal time.
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