China backs African Union bid to join the Group of 20

Xi Jinping to go to Bali for G20 summit in November, raising prospect of talks with Joe Biden

Chinese foreign minister tells African counterparts Beijing will keep giving military, economic, food and anti-pandemic aid

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says Beijing is throwing its weight behind the African Union’s bid to join the G20. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 6:00pm, 19 Aug 2022

Beijing will support the African Union in its decades-long quest to join the G20, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday, as China vies with other powers for influence on the continent.

South Africa is the only representative of the continent in the Group of 20 despite the African Union pushing for inclusion since its creation in 1999.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said last month he would invite the African bloc, representing 55 countries and 1.4 billion people, to the G20 summit in Bali in November to help the continent’s bid.

The G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union. European Council president Charles Michel also voiced his support last month for the AU’s bid for the G20.

Wang’s pledge also came as Widodo told Bloomberg on Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping planned to attend the Bali summit in person, along with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Xi could meet US President Joe Biden, who is also expected to attend the gathering.

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