Declaration shows G20 still embraces spirit of partnership
It is not easy for the leaders of different countries to reach an unanimous agreement on issues such as trade and climate change. The just concluded G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires reached a consensus on promoting “fair and sustainable development through an agenda that is people-centered, inclusive and forwardlooking”. It can therefore be considered an achievement in itself.
True, that will still require teams from the 20 major economies to sit down together to hammer out the details of how they will work together for a fair and free trading mechanism within the multilateral trading framework. But at least they should be starting on the same page and be clear about what they are aiming for.
And that is exactly what these summits are supposed to do — set a common direction and put shoulders to the wheel of the cart of common endeavors and set it rolling in the right direction.
Thus it was important for the leaders of the major economies to agree that the world economy will not fully recover unless international trade and investment play their proper roles in promoting growth, productivity and innovation.
The declaration from the summit shows that the G20 leaders are committed to “promoting dialogue and the search for common ground”, showing they are as aware as anyone our world needs solidarity and collaborative efforts.
As President Xi Jinping accentuated in Argentina, Beijing is dedicated to building strong partnerships, which are a critical cornerstone of the country’s desired relationship with the rest of the world. They are part of China’s efforts to forge a global community at a time when the world is undergoing profound changes and facing unprecedented challenges that require a concerted response.
The recent APEC meeting was notable for the spoiling efforts of the United States, with US Vice-President Mike Pence striking a divisive note that was at odds with the solidarity of purpose shown by the other participants.
The G20 meeting was more realistic — and pragmatic — with the leaders showing they are willing to shelve differences to engage in constructive dialogue.
If they continue to do so, they should be able to avert any damaging scenario that will inevitably leave the world in turmoil.