Obama is in Hangzhou for a meeting of the Group of 20 and Ban flew there so that the USA and Chinese leaders could formally deposit their “instruments” of ratification or approval of the agreement with the United Nations.
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In an effort to shore up public support for trade, the leaders promised “inclusive growth” to spread the benefits to people who have been left behind by wrenching change. The joint statement reflects that ambition by calling the G20 the “premier forum” for economic co-operation. “China proposed that we could assign a translator to sit beside the driver, but the USA side turned down the proposal and insisted that they don’t need the staircase provided by the airport”.
Kerry has said the United States won’t accept just any deal just to have it collapse again.
The South China Morning Post newspaper also quoted a Chinese foreign ministry official as saying: “US side complained that the driver doesn’t speak English and can’t understand security instructions. and insisted that they didn’t need the staircase”.
On his part, Xi has pledged to reduce the country’s steel production capacity by 100 million to 150 million tons by 2020.
China now manufactures about half of the world’s steel.
“Group of 20 countries should abide by their commitment to avoid taking new protectionist measures, strengthen investment policy cooperation and take effective action to promote trade growth”, Xi said.
May said she didn’t want Britain to become inward looking. Mr. Obama took the unusual step of personally lobbying against Britain’s exit from the European Union, but if the aftermath of the vote has said he would stand by Britain amid the country’s internal struggles.
The rise of protectionism is challenging economic globalisation, imperilling multilateral trade arrangements, and despite regulatory reforms market volatility is gathering pace, he said.
The World Trade Organization is forecasting this year’s global trade growth at an anemic 2.8 percent its fifth straight year below 3 percent.
During the latest meeting between the two leaders, they held in-depth, frank and constructive talks and reached consensus on a series of issues, ranging from bilateral relations, economic restructuring, and global economic and financial governance to regional and worldwide problems of common concern. “We must all work together to spur economic growth, to boost free trade and build a fairer economy that truly works for all”. Asserting that fight against terror should not be motivated by “political considerations”, Modi said it is of “paramount importance that we respect each other’s aspirations, concerns and strategic interests” to ensure durable bilateral ties. -European pact have slowed or stalled.
“But this time”, he said, “the seams are showing a little more than usual”.
China has gone to great lengths to try to make the Sept 4-5 G20 summit a success, hoping to cement its standing as a global power, but a range of thorny diplomatic topics could overshadow the agenda.
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The tarmac kerfuffle included a shouting match that broke out as White House staffers tried to help American reporters position themselves to film Obama’s arrival in the eastern Chinese city for a G20 summit.
