Ramaphosa: 'We are committed to having a good relationship with the US'

JOHANNESBURG - The absence of top United States officials at the G20's foreign ministers' meeting in Johannesburg this week took centre stage as global leaders mulled over solutions to a range of diplomatic and economic challenges.

Foreign ministers from the bloc met for the first time since the start of South Africa's G20 presidency.

While the agenda was meant to be limited to geopolitical tensions, climate issues and plans to put Africa on the map, the two-day meeting at the Nasrec Expo Centre in the south of Joburg was dominated by matters linked to the US.

President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the meeting on Thursday with a call to global leaders to find common ground on addressing global challenges.

This includes the wars in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, the threats of trade wars, climate change and Africa's debt burden.

"These challenges are interconnected and they require responses that are inclusive and responses that are well coordinated through forums such as the G20."

While these matters were on the agenda behind closed doors, the decision to deploy a low-level US delegation was the focus on the sidelines.

Ramaphosa later dismissed these concerns.

"We are committed to having a good relationship with the US."

The meeting wrapped up on Friday, with G20 finance ministers set to meet in Cape Town next week.