South Africa’s Ramaphosa Sees Common Ground With Dealmaker Trump

S'thembile Cele and Alessandra Migliaccio
·1-min read

(Bloomberg) -- South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said he expects to find common ground with his US counterpart Donald Trump, despite concern among some world leaders about what his return to the White House may bring.

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South Africa enjoys good relations with America, its second-largest trading partner after China, and they will work closely on addressing climate financing and other issues, Ramaphosa told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

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“I’m sure that we will find great solutions,” Ramaphosa said. “President Trump is a great dealmaker and so am I. So we will be able to work together.”

South Africa assumed the leadership of the Group of 20 nations from Brazil in December, the first African nation to do so, and is due to host a summit of its leaders in Johannesburg in November before the mantle goes to the US.

Trump’s return stirred a lot of talk among leaders in Davos this week and “some of them are fearful, some of them are hopeful,” Ramaphosa said, adding that South Africa is confident of retaining close trading and economic ties with the America ahead of the handover of the G-20 leadership.

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