As Premier Li Qiang arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday for the 20th G20 Summit, expectations are high for China to use it to call on the international community to uphold multilateralism, advance reform of global economic governance and work together to address global challenges.

The G20 Johannesburg Summit, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, is set to be a historic moment for South Africa, as such a summit is held for the first time on the African continent.

Under the presidency of South Africa, the summit will showcase the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability", emphasizing inclusive growth, reduced inequalities, and Africa-driven priorities.

The agenda will focus on issues including climate financing, global economic recovery, food security, governance of artificial intelligence, and the digital divide, as well as the advancement of sustainable development goals.

The summit comes against the backdrop of the rapid evolution of the international landscape unseen in a century, sluggish global economic growth and a widening development deficit in the world.

Ahead of the summit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed expectations that the G20 needs to enhance solidarity and cooperation and contribute to world economic growth and the development and prosperity of all countries.

China supports South Africa's G20 presidency and stands ready to work with various parties to build up consensus at the summit for upholding multilateralism, building an open world economy and promoting cooperation on development, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news conference on Nov 13.

Founded in 1999, the G20 comprises 19 countries and two regional bodies — the European Union and the African Union. The G20 members represent around 85 percent of the global gross domestic product, over 75 percent of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

Ma Hanzhi, assistant research fellow at the Department for Developing Countries Studies of China Institute of International Studies, said that China may take the G20 Summit as an opportunity to promote the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative.

In particular, China will advocate for enhancing the representation and voice of the Global South in global financial and economic governance to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Ma said.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn