Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, concluded on 19 November the organization’s inaugural participation in the G20 Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 18–19 November. The summit, convened under the theme "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet," brought together heads of state and government from G20 member countries alongside numerous other nations and international organisations.
In his closing remarks, the Secretary-General expressed his satisfaction with this participation, stating: "I am pleased with the League's inclusion in the summit of such a vital international grouping, particularly given the diversity of its membership, its openness to various global perspectives, and its focus on critical issues such as poverty eradication and sustainable development."
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, underscored the significance of the involvement by the League of Arab States in the G20 Summit. He emphasised that this participation was a direct response to an invitation extended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, enabling Mr. Aboul Gheit to attend and engage in all summit discussions. Moreover, the League was invited to join President Da Silva's initiative to establish an international alliance aimed at eradicating hunger and poverty.
The spokesperson highlighted that Mr. Aboul Gheit participated in the three main sessions of the G20 Summit's agenda. During the first session, held on the morning of 18 November under the theme "Combating Hunger and Poverty," the Secretary-General delivered a significant address emphasising the League's support for and participation in the Brazilian initiative to establish a global alliance against hunger and poverty. He underscored the League’s firm belief in the necessity of uniting global efforts to tackle the growing crises of extreme poverty and hunger, which are exacerbating global challenges.
Roshdy noted that Mr. Aboul Gheit’s address to the summit, as well as his bilateral meetings over the two days, also focused on the critical situations in Gaza and Lebanon. He highlighted the devastating repercussions of Israel's ongoing aggression, emphasising that the practices and violent actions perpetrated by Israel in Palestine and Lebanon are exacerbating famine and driving up rates of extreme poverty, further destabilising the region.
The spokesman conveyed two concluding messages from the Secretary-General as the summit drew to a close. The first was directed to the international community, calling on it to assume its responsibilities by initiating meaningful change and demonstrating genuine political will to address pressing global challenges. These include combating hunger and poverty, mitigating the impacts of climate change, enhancing resilience mechanisms, and reforming the performance of international institutions. The second message was directed to Brazil, expressing deep appreciation for inviting the League of Arab States to participate in the G20 Summit for the first time. He lauded this invitation as a recognition of the long-standing and distinguished cooperation between the League and Brazil across various fields. Additionally, he praised Brazil for its exemplary organisation and facilitation of the summit’s proceedings, ensuring its success.
