But scratch beneath the surface, and the gathering of the world’s most powerful leaders was not all plain sailing – from the distraction of a North Korean missile test to the failure of the United States and Russian Federation to reach agreement over Syria, and diplomatic faux pas to double speak over protectionism.
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There were also plenty of distractions serving as reminders of the geopolitical forces swirling around China, which sees the summit as a showcase for its global leadership credentials. China issued veiled a warning about the possible impact of the move.
The G20 summit, bringing together leaders of the world’s major economies, had largely focused in its main sessions on spurring the global economy, countering protectionism and removing trade barriers.
“We went through a period over the course of 20 years, in the ’90s and on through maybe the onset of my presidency, where, because state-sponsored capitalism and an export-driven model was very successful, China was less interested in making waves”, Obama said.
Beijing and Tokyo have a longstanding dispute over islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan, which knows them as Senkaku, and claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu.
But while the communique used unusually harsh language in discussing China’s massive overcapacity in steel, the criticism is unlikely to persuade Beijing to drastically cut steel production, which would weigh on economic growth.
A new flashpoint is emerging his week, with the Philippines asking Beijing to explain the presence of Chinese vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
“Now of course we have to enforce and to follow up”, the official added.
China is intent on keeping the G20 on script.
He said the summit will discuss innovation-driven growth and more efficient global economic and financial governance.
In opening remarks, Xi said the world economy is recovering but faces multiple challenges in finance, trade and investment. “India has striven to become a world power and to have a bigger say in worldwide affairs, hence it needs to shoulder its due responsibilities and take actions, regardless of the difficulties, to help save the planet”, it said. Obama met earlier with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the same issue.
Another shadow over the G20 has been the rise of popular opposition to free trade and globalization, embodied by phenomenon like Britain’s summer vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump becoming the Republican presidential candidate in the United States.
The G-20 meeting “must urgently find a solution” to excess steel production, said Jean-Claude Juncker.
“And, I think, over the long-term, it will be in China’s interests, as well”, Obama said in an interview recorded before he left for China.
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He said previous tax orders have affected European companies, including a January ruling that covered 35 enterprises, a lot of them from Europe.
