Chairperson, MS Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane Vote of Thanks on the Occasion of the Opening Session G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit

• Programme Directors
• Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Thoko Didiza
• Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Hon. M.T. Kubayi
• Ministers and Deputy Ministers present
• Executive Mayor of the Overstrand District Municipality, Mr. A Klaas
• H.E. President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira
• Vice President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Hon G Morawska-Stanecka
• Speakers and Leaders of G20 Parliamentarians
• Distinguished Guests
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Morning

It is with great humility and honor that we give a vote of thanks to you all, on this historic occasion, of the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit, held on African soil.

We wish to extend special thanks to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Hon. M.T. Kubayi, for the delivery of the Keynote Address, which was quite instructive, in setting the scene for the important deliberations that shall take place over the next two days.

The insight provided, in capturing the meaning and essence of this moment, shall remain etched in the memory of delegates present, in our mission to harness parliamentary diplomacy for global solidarity, equality, and sustainability.

Through this Address, you reaffirmed the role and significance of Parliaments in playing their part to fashion a new order, as we respond to current global challenges and opportunities.

Accordingly, we wish to extend words of gratitude for the compelling remarks made by our affiliate bodies; the President of PAP, in his articulation of the perspective of African Parliaments, to explore opportunities that the G20 provides for Africa's people.

The Vice President of the IPU, whose input underlined the important role of the parliamentary union, in bringing together parliaments from across the globe, as a means to deepen representative and participatory democracy across all nations.

The Executive Mayor of Overstrand Municipality, for your warm words in welcoming all parliamentarians, as well as the support provided, to ensure our Parliament hosts a successful Speakers' Summit.

Equally, I take this opportunity to thank the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Thoko Didiza, for her leadership in clearly re-centering the significance and impact of this platform in elevating all thematic issues.

Programme Director, we would be amiss not to heed the call from the youth to capitalise on technology advancement, to value-add on our natural endowments

Earlier on, women parliamentarians emphasised the importance of global financial reforms for the pursuit of just energy transition, as it has been established that climate change proportionally impacts women more negatively.

Our Presiding Officers - the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and the Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP; for ensuring a befitting Opening Session, that represents the aspirations of all our nations and parliaments.

To this extent, I wish to thank all Speakers and Leaders of G20 parliamentarians for traveling far and wide to form part of this momentous occasion.

As we anticipate rich dialogue and conversations that shall underpin these spirited debates; the expectations of the people we serve are that the outcomes of this Summit truly translate our international obligations to realisable development goals.

We therefore look forward to our joint resolutions, which provide an opportunity to enact more unified voices and perspectives on the pertinent issues and themes before the upcoming G20 Summit.

These issues, as elaborated in this opening session, engender the state of the global economy, global trade, climate change, agriculture, technology, peace, security, human solidarity and equality for all.

Thus, through the maximum use of this P20, we truly hope all delegates and parliamentarians shall be more attentive, in order we re-energize our determination, in the call for deeper elaboration of our continental and global challenges.

CONCLUSION

In this accord, as we are challenged to influence rather than satisfy the standards set by others, we look forward to the opportunity to evaluate our future prospects from a more thorough-going standpoint.

We thus thank you all and wish you successful deliberations