Challenges facing other key players at the summit

- CHINA -

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet Trump seeking to break an impasse in their trade war on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Xi has cast himself as a defender of globalisation and opponent of protectionism, but US and European governments say foreign companies still face many hurdles to conduct business in the Communistruled country, including the forced transfer of technology or outright theft of intellectual property.

- TURKEY -

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will seek to use the summit to again project his image on the international stage as a champion of the poor and oppressed as well as an un-ignorable figure in international diplomacy. The G20 is a crucial forum for Turkey as it seeks to build ties with key African and Latin American nations to assure its status as a global power. Erdogan is also likely to press for justice on causes close to his heart such as the Palestinians or the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. But the main focus could be on the murder of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at whom Turkish pro-government media have pointed the finger of blame over the killing, expected to also attend. Erdogan and the prince have not met face to face since the crisis erupted.

- RUSSIA -

President Vladimir Putin arrives in Buenos Aires amid accusations from Ukraine that he’s preparing for a full-scale war after Russia shot at and captured three of Kiev’s ships. Putin will have a face-to-face meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the summit, amid ongoing accusations that Russia colluded with Trump’s campaign team during his 2016 presidential election win.