Another prominent issue at the summit is G-20 member Britain’s June vote to leave the 28-nation European Union, seen by some analysts as the first in a wave of moves by other nations to retreat from free trade.
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The global economy is now “at a crucial juncture” after being pegged back by sluggish demand, volatility in the financial markets and weaker trade and investment. “Both sides recognise the importance of clear policy communication”.
“We will continue to reinforce macro-policy dialogue and coordination, work in the spirit of partnership to promote mutual help and win-win cooperation, and focus our minds and energy to pursue strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth”, Xi said.
Xi called on G20 countries to match their words with actions, in terms of policy moves to shore up global growth.
COUNTRIES that make up the Group of Twenty (G-20) need to be part of a team that takes action, and not one that is nothing more than a “talk shop” group, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday.
“There are hard issues between Japan and China, and because of that, it is important that the leaders exchange honest opinions and make improvements”, said Tokyo’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga.
Brusque interactions and last-minute disagreements about protocol are not uncommon when the US leader visits China, where there’s an expectation that government ground rules be followed without question, no matter how rigid.
“Despite everything, we have some alignment of positions and an understanding of what we could do to de-escalate the situation in Syria”, Putin said at a press conference following the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday.
Britain’s future after its departure from the European Union was also subject to discussion. TTIP is a stalled US-EU trade deal, while TPP is Obama’s signature Asian trade deal.
“Free trade must be fair trade”, Juncker said at a news conference with Donald Tusk, president of the European Council.
The outburst was caught on camera, in an awkward prelude to face-to-face talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American guest.
Warning China of “consequences” due to its aggressive behaviour, US President Barack Obama has asked the Communist nation to restrain itself from worrying its neighbours in the disputed South China Sea region.
“It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote, and continued to believe post-Brexit vote, that the world benefited enormously from the United Kingdom’s participation in the EU,”he said”.
“The seams are showing a little more than usual”, President Obama says, quoting his press secretary to describe the tense chaos that marked Obama’s arrival in China for his final G-20 economic summit and his last visit to Asia as president.
In a concession to Beijing, the statement doesn’t mention China by name and says excess steel capacity is a global issue, though USA and European officials say the vast Chinese state-owned industry, which accounts for half of worldwide output, is the root of the problem.
In an unusually lengthy statement following the meeting, the White House said Mr Obama had “underscored the US’ unwavering commitment to the security of its treaty allies”.
The G20 summit took place in China with rising populist sentiment discouraging leaders from making hard commitments, and a stumbling push for a Syria ceasefire and Asia’s territorial disputes intruding on the agenda. His staff also was obstructed and cursed by Chinese officials at the Hangzhou airport.
It’s not the first time it has happened.
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Heavy security for the event brought Hangzhou, a city of 2.5 million people, to a standstill and left downtown streets deserted.
