PM Wong to attend G20 Summit in South Africa & official visit to Ethiopia

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will be attending the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, from Nov. 21 to 23.

The Group of 20, also known as G20, is an international forum where world leaders discuss ways to deepen economic integration and cooperation.

The 2025 summit will be the first one hosted in Africa.

Though not a member of the bloc, Singapore has been invited to participate in the summit as a guest country for almost two decades, as part of our commitment to multilateralism and stronger global governance.

PM Wong's attendance this year is at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in South Africa’s capacity as the 2025 G20 Presidency.

It will be his second time participating in the G20 Summit as Singapore's PM since taking office in 2024.

He will be accompanied by Mrs Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, and officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

Discussions on growth

Under South Africa's presidency, this year's G20 focuses on the theme, "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability".

It will address interlinked global crises of climate change, inequality, hunger and poverty, and geopolitical instability.

PM Wong will participate in discussions aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, and fostering a fair and just future amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the changing nature of work.

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Wong will have bilateral meetings with his counterparts.

Visiting Ethiopia

Right after the summit, from Nov. 23 to 25, PM Wong will make an official visit to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, at the invitation of the Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali.

It will be his first official visit to Ethiopia as Singapore's PM, and the first by a Singapore PM since February 1964, when then-PM Lee Kuan Yew made the trip.

PM Wong's visit reciprocates Abiy’s official visit to Singapore in June 2024, reaffirming the warm ties between Singapore and Ethiopia.

Mrs Wong and Vivian will also join him on this trip, with the addition of Minister of State in the MFA and Ministry of Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and Ministry of Health Rahayu Mahzam.

What he will be doing in Ethiopia

In Addis Ababa, PM Wong will receive a ceremonial welcome at the National Palace, and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Adwa Victory Memorial Monument.

He and Abiy will meet for an official dinner, take part in a tree planting ceremony together, and hold a joint press conference.

PM Wong will also meet the director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (AfCDC) to exchange views on AfCDC’s work in Africa and its partnership with Singapore.

Additionally, he will visit the Repi Wilmar Factory, a Singapore-Ethiopia joint venture that manufactures popular local household brands of soap and detergent.

During PM Wong’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong will be the Acting Prime Minister from Nov. 21 to 24, followed by Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam on Nov. 25.

Top images from PM Wong's Facebook