Speaking at the EU-SA summit in Cape Town, where President Cyril Ramaphosa was also in attendance, von der Leyen highlighted the importance of peace and unity, especially in a time of global conflicts.

"This is why we are here today, to strengthen the already close ties between our nations and our citizens. SA has a vital role on the world stage. You are the leading voice of the Global South. We are united by our democratic values and our shared commitment to unity and diversity. But we also share fundamental interests in ensuring peace and stability on our continents to boost sustainable economic growth and strengthen our supply chains," von der Leyen stated.

Ramaphosa welcomed the European Union's support for multilateralism and expressed SA's hope to continue working closely with the EU in defence of democracy worldwide.

Delivering the opening address at the summit, Ramaphosa noted the EU's significant progress in transitioning to renewable energy and expressed SA's aspiration to follow a similar path.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--