Presidents Lee Ramaphosa Attend G7 Summit in Canada Strengthening Global Cooperation

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the 2025 G7 Summit in Canada to participate in the outreach session and strengthen global cooperation amid his country’s G20 presidency. He held bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, emphasizing shared commitments to a rules-based global order, economic stability, energy security, and sustainable development. Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and climate challenges, while Canada and South Africa, as the current chairs of the G7 and G20 respectively, lead efforts to tackle these issues. South Korea’s President Lee also engaged in summit diplomacy with South Africa and Australia, aiming to boost trade, investment, and energy cooperation. The summit underscored South Africa's growing influence as the only African nation invited to the G7 outreach session, representing African interests on the global stage. These diplomatic engagements reflect a pragmatic approach to fostering multilateral partnerships and advancing common priorities such as energy, critical minerals, and technological innovation.