Pedro Sánchez argues at the G20 for the urgent need to move towards fair taxation to tackle global inequality

Johannesburg (South Africa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in the group photo of the G20 Summit (Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa y Pool G20)

The President of the Government of Spain has taken part in the 20th G20 summit, which is being held for the first time on the African continent.

In his address at the opening session, "Inclusive and sustainable economic growth leaving no one behind: Building our economies; the role of trade; Financing for development and the Debt burden", President Sánchez championed cooperation over fragmentation as the path to progress, highlighting the commitment reached at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development held this year in Seville. In this regard, he emphasised the importance of implementing concrete initiatives, especially those led by Spain, that seek to address the challenge of debt sustainability.

Pedro Sánchez argued that financing alone is insufficient, noting that disruptions in the global trading system, increased protectionism, and fragmentation in supply chains erode global growth. Therefore, he stressed the urgency of strengthening the multilateral trading system, adapting common rules to encourage countries to advance their development, and restoring the central role of the WTO and updating it to ensure its capacity to address current challenges.

Group photo from the G20 Summit | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa y Pool G20

Reaffirming the need to place inequality at the heart of the international agenda, President Sánchez highlighted the need to build on the progress made by the G20 in fiscal matters toward a fairer global model with rules that help countries have sufficient resources. He also pointed to the need for a fair contribution from wealthier individuals and multinational corporations. He also argued that inclusive and sustainable development can only be achieved in a context of peace and respect for the rules of the multilateral system, underlining Spain's commitment to strengthening cooperation and protecting the most vulnerable without leaving anyone behind.

Meetings on the sidelines of the G20

On the sidelines of the Summit, the President of the Government of Spain participated in a meeting of European leaders to discuss the proposed peace plan for Ukraine. During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their strong support for Ukraine and stressed that peace must be just, lasting, and sustainable.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, at the EU leaders' meeting held within the framework of the G20 Summit | Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa y Pool G20

The President of the Government of Spain also held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Ching, in which they both emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between the European Union and ASEAN, as well as the potential to boost bilateral collaboration in areas such as trade, innovation, and investment. During his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Pedro Sánchez stressed the need to move towards a more balanced economic trade relationship.

Non official translation