President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived, this Friday (21), in Johannesburg, South Africa, to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit – a group of the world’s largest economies. “The G20 brings in 2025 the motto Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, themes of fundamental importance for Brazil and the Global South”, wrote Lula in a post on social media this morning, upon landing in the South African capital.
As president of the bloc in 2024, Brazil also has a prominent participation in this edition of the summit, as it is part of the “troika” alongside South Africa and the United States.the next country to take command of the forum. The troika is cooperation between the current, previous and next presidency of the group to ensure continuity and preparation for the summit.
When conducting the work, the South African presidency listed four priorities for discussions: strengthening resilience and disaster response capacity; public debt sustainability in low-income countries; financing for the fair energy transition; and critical minerals as engines of development and economic growth.
The G20 is the main body for international economic cooperation, created in 1999. The summit will be divided into three thematic sessions and will result in a declaration by leaders. Among the advances, the text will deal with the principles which must be observed in the extraction and processing of strategic minerals and rare earths.
Follow EBC’s complete coverage at COP30
Other acts at the summit include the statement by finance ministers on debt sustainability and a report on improvements in the G20’s operating methods. South Africa’s presidency ends the first complete cycle of presidencies by the group’s countries and maintained, for example, a practice initiated by Brazil of inclusive meetings during the United Nations (UN) high-level week in September, so that non-G20 member countries can make their voices heard.
On Saturday (22) morning, the leaders discuss sustainable economic growth, addressing development financing, trade and public debts. In the afternoon, it will be time for a session dedicated to climate change, disaster risk reduction, food security and energy transition. On Sunday (23), the meeting will focus on critical minerals, decent work and artificial intelligence.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Lula is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and authorities present and, on Sunday, a meeting is planned between the leaders of the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (Ibas). The trilateral initiative was developed in 2003 with the aim of promoting cooperation between countries in the Global South.
Mozambique
Afterwards, Lula leaves for Maputo, capital of Mozambique, where he will make a working visit on Monday (24). The trip is part of the celebrations of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries [https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/internacional/noticia/2025-11/relacoes-entre-brasil-e-mocambique-fazem-50-anos-e-lula-viaja-ao-pais].
Mozambique is the largest beneficiary of Brazilian cooperation with resources from the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) in Africa, covering diverse areas – health, agriculture, education, professional training, among others – and involving structuring projects. During the visit, cooperation in areas such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, health, education and combating organized crime should be revisited.
Both countries also want to expand trade and investment. In this sense, a business forum is being organized, which should be attended by 150 to 200 Brazilian and Mozambican businesspeople, with panels on agribusiness, industry and innovation and health.
In Maputo, Lula will be received by the country’s president, Daniel Chapo. The signing of an agreement on cooperation between diplomatic academies is already planned and other technical cooperation terms continue to be negotiated.
The president will also participate in the closing of the business forum and should receive the title of honorary doctor from the Pedagogical University of Maputo.
Lula is expected to return to Brazil on Monday.
