WORLD LEADER SUMMIT

What is the G20, which countries are included, when is the next summit being held and what will be discussed?

  

The world leaders ahead of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China on September 4

THE G20, or group of 20, is an international meeting between heads of state, finance ministers and central bank governors from the world's leading economies.
Founded in 1999 to give developing countries a more powerful voice in the global economy, the summit brings together industrialised and emerging economies.


The group makes up 85 per cent of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of its population.
When it was first started, only finance ministers and central bank governors met at G20 summits.

But a meeting was held between heads of state after the Lehman Brothers crash in 2008, which led to a global recession.
There has been a yearly meeting between G20 country leaders since. Between 2009 and 2010, when the global economy was in crisis, leaders met twice a year.
Since the first meeting in Berlin, 1999, there have been 18 G20 summits between finance ministers and central bank governors.
There have been 10 between heads of state or the government of G20 economies.
Much of G20’s work takes place on the sidelines and in informal meetings – not at the annual summit.

  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting this year’s G20 Summit in Hamburg

Which countries are G20 members?

1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Brazil
4. Canada
5. China
6. France
7. Germany
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Italy
11. Japan
12. Mexico
13. Russia
14. South Africa
15. Saudi Arabia
16. South Korea
17. Turkey
18. United Kingdom
19. United States of America
20. The European Union, represented by the European Council

Getty Images   

Theresa May greets President Xi at this year’s summit in Hangzhou

Where is the 2016 G20 summit being held?

G20 foreign ministers are set for talks in Bonn on 16 February.
Among topics on the agenda are the role of Nato and the ongoing war in Syria.
Japan and Russian ministers have planned to hold discussions on the sidelines of the conference.
This year’s main G20 forum is being held from 7-8 July in Hamburg, Germany.
As well as permanent members of the committee, the leaders of Guinea, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Senegal, Singapore, Spain and Vietnam will also be in attendance.
This will be the 12th G20 summit and the first time it has been hosted by Germany.
The venue is yet to be announced.

Reuters   

Brexit is set to be on this year’s agenda, as Britain tries to make trade deals with the rest of the world after leaving the EU

What will be discussed at the G20 meeting?

Among the topics likely to be discussed at the meeting are relations between Donald Trump’s American and Russia, North Korean nuclear weapons tests and the battle against ISIS.
Also likely to feature high on the agenda is the migrant crisis, climate change, Iran and ongoing tensions between Palestinians and Israelis.
The summit is likely to be one of Donald Trump’s first major foreign diplomacy tests as US President.
He is likely to face questions over his ‘Muslim ban’ policy that saw residents of seven Muslim-majority nations temporarily-banned from travelling to the US.
(The Sun, UK)

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