G20 Summit Welcomes African Union as Member, Discusses Global Issues

The Group of 20 (G20) top world economies welcomed the African Union (AU) as a member at their annual summit on Saturday. The summit, which is taking place in Osaka, Japan, is the first time the AU has been invited to join the G20.

The G20 also released a final statement, which was less sharply worded than one issued during last year’s meeting in Bali, regarding the contentious issue of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The statement did not mention Russia’s invasion directly, but called on “all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the U.N.”

The G20 also discussed the need to avoid forcefully seizing territory or using nuclear weapons. The statement said members reiterated their national positions and resolutions adopted at the United Nations, and called on all states to act in line with principles laid out in the U.N.

The G20 summit is an annual event that brings together leaders from the world’s top economies to discuss global economic and political issues. This year’s summit is the first to include the African Union, which is a major milestone for the organization.

The G20 summit is expected to close on Sunday, with the leaders of the world’s top economies discussing a range of topics including trade, climate change, and the global economy. The inclusion of the African Union is seen as a positive step towards strengthening global cooperation and addressing global challenges.