Editor's Note

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Brisbane Friday for the 9th G20 Summit in Australia, and has state visits to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji on his schedule from November 15 to 23, hoping to boost China's role in driving the global economy and spurring cooperation in dealing with worldwide challenges including climate change and the spread of epidemics.

Latest News

Xi vows key support for G20
China is expected to play a "prominent" role in achieving the growth targets set up by Group of 20 (G20) leaders during a two-day summit over the weekend, including lifting the 20 countries' GDP and setting up a global infrastructure hub.

IMF vows to monitor G20 promises: Lagarde
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde said on Sunday that her organization would closely monitor the G20 leaders ' commitments to economic growth. 

G20 leaders vow to step up efforts for strong, sustainable, balanced growth
Leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) of the world's largest developed countries and emerging economies Sunday cited as their top priority raising global growth to deliver better living standards and quality jobs for people across the world.

China to maintain growth, contribute to global economy: Xi
China will keep the momentum of economic growth and make greater contribution to the global economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping told a Group of Twenty (G20) summit Saturday.

China's Xi, Brazil's Rousseff agree on advancing railway cooperation
Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff here Sunday, calling for early substantial progress in China-Brazil railway cooperation.

G20 leaders support fight against Ebola virus
G20 leaders issued a statement Saturday pledging to fight the Ebola pandemic, which has evolved from a health issue to an economic one. 

Schedules

Australia (November 16-19)

-Meet with Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove
-Hold a talk with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott
-Attend a series of forums and meetings, deliver a speech
-Sign cooperation agreements covering finance, education, energy, infrastructure and other sectors

Related news:

China, Australia hail FTA
China and Australia on Monday concluded negotiations for a landmark free trade agreement, a powerful boost to ties between China and the close US ally, although it fell short of China's demand for relaxed scrutiny over investment by Chinese State-owned enterprises (SOE) in Australia.

Xi calls for bigger role of Queensland in promoting China-Australia relationship
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Queensland Premier Campbell Newman here on Sunday, calling for a bigger role of Queensland in promoting China-Australia relations.

New Zealand (November 19-21)

-Meet with New Zealand's Governor-General Jerry Mateparae
-Hold a talk with New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key
-Attend a launch ceremony and an exhibition
-Sign cooperation agreements in climate change, telecom, television, education, the south pole, tourism, food safety, finance, agriculture and forestry.

Fiji (November 21-23)

-Meet with Fiji's President Epeli Nailatikau 
-Hold a talk with Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama

Pacific Island countries （in Fiji）

-Hold bilateral meetings with leaders of seven Pacific Island countries establishing diplomatic ties with China 
-Have a joint meeting with leaders of Pacific Island countries

Source: Chinanews.com

Highlights

Boosting economic growth
In the opening remarks for the first Plenary Session of the G20 Summit, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott pledged to achieve the goal to boost world growth by more than an additional 2 percent by 2018 and create more jobs.

A stronger and more resilient global economy
Leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) of the world's largest developed countries and emerging economies Sunday cited as their top priority raising global growth to deliver better living standards and quality jobs for people across the world.

Infrastructure investment 
Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey said it was at the G20 finance ministers meeting that member states decided to fund the massive infrastructure need around the world over the next few decades through a better partnership with the private sector.

Strengthening global institutions
The G20 must be at the forefront in helping to address key global economic challenges. Global economic institutions need to be effective and representative, and to reflect the changing world economy.
Source: g20.org

Fight against Ebola 
G20 leaders issued a statement Saturday pledging to fight the Ebola pandemic, which has evolved from a health issue to an economic one. "G20 members are committed to do what is necessary to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak and address its medium-term economic and humanitarian costs," the statement said.

China to hold G20 in 2016
China will play host to the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit in 2016, the 20-member group said on Sunday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said during Sunday's summit that China is confident to fulfill its role as the chair of the 2016 G20 summit and a member of the three-member management troika of the year 2015 and 2017.

Commentary

G20 will better connect China and world 
When China holds an international event, it is an opportunity for China to bring the full range of its formidable resources to bear. Such events are an opportunity for the world to understand China anew. Likewise, they are an opportunity for China to re-examine itself.

APEC has ended, and the G20 summit is soon to arrive. We also expect that Beijing and Zhangjiakou's bid to host the winter Olympic Games will be successful. China's rise will see it host more international events. Although there may be problems associated with these events, we are willing to accept them.

G20 should be a source of confidence, cooperation: Australian academic
G20 should be a premium forum for international cooperation where leaders can provide political momentum to get things done, said Mike Callaghan, director of the G20 Studies Center with the Lowy Institute for International Policy, a well-known Australian think tank.

Global bodies look to recover drive and verve
If the G20 is serious about global economic reform, it needs to continue to push for real change. This must include a fast-track reform of the IMF, the World Bank and other financial architecture and institutions. It also needs to ensure and push for greater emerging and developing countries' representation, as many multilateral institutions appear to be passé, outdated, highly bureaucratic and rather "colonialist" in their approach.

Tax evasion crackdown could bridge gap between G20 and public
G20 members have the opportunity to show to citizens of the world that they are determined to bring an end to the smoldering feeling of injustice. In many societies hard-working and honest citizens have to pay disproportionate amounts of taxes because shrewd individuals and well-connected companies avoid covering their normal share. G20 leaders should stop this. They will benefit and increase their reputation by being perceived as flag-bearers in the fight against tax evasion.

Photos

Background Info

Basic facts

The grouping was established in September 1999 to bring together important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues concerning the global economy.

The G20 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United States, and the European Union (EU).

Together, G20 member countries represent two thirds of the world's population, 60 percent of global land area, around 90 percent of global gross domestic product, and 80 percent of world trade (including trade within EU members).

Previous summits

Time	Location	Major topic
Sept. 5-6, 2013	St. Petersburg, Russia	Fostering economic growth and job creation
June 18-19, 2012	Los Cabos, Mexico	The euro-zone crisis and other key global issues, including the strengthening of financial system, development, trade and employment
Nov. 3-4, 2011	Cannes, France	Economic recovery and financial stability at a time of heightened tensions and significant downside risks for the global economy
Nov. 10-11, 2010	Seoul, South Korea	"Shared Growth beyond Crisis"
June 26-27, 2010	Toronto, Canada	"Recovery and New Beginnings"
Sept. 24-25, 2009	Pittsburgh, the United States	Actions to assure a sound and sustainable recovery from the global financial and economic crisis
Apr. 2, 2009	London, the United Kingdom	Coordinated fiscal and monetary stimulus measures to avert the threat of global depression
Nov. 14-15, 2008	Washington, the United States	Strengthening financial regulation

 Web editor: liyingxa@globaltimes.com.cn