Leaders of the Group of 20 countries opened talks on Tuesday in Bali, with a plea by host Indonesia for unity and concrete action to mend the global economy despite deep rifts over the war in Ukraine. Saudi Arabia's delegation to the summit is led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister, who was received upon arrival at the summit venue by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The Kingdom's delegation included, among others, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy; Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense, and Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs. "We have no other option, collaboration is needed to save the world," Indonesian President Widodo said in opening remarks, before the leaders began closed-door discussions. "G20 must be the catalyst for inclusive economic recovery. We should not divide the world into parts. We must not allow the world to fall into another cold war." The G20, which includes countries ranging from Brazil to India, Saudi Arabia and Germany, accounts for more than 80% of the world's gross domestic product, 75% of international trade and 60% of its population. In a positive sign on the eve of the summit, US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a three-hour bilateral meeting in which the two leaders pledged more frequent communications despite many differences. Monday's meeting was the first time the two had met in person since Biden became president and the talks appeared to signal an improvement in relations between the two countries after a downward spiral lately. The Ukraine war and a global spike in inflation is overshadowing the summit. Russia's war with Ukraine triggered calls by some Western leaders for a boycott of the summit and for the withdrawal of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation. Indonesia resisted, refusing to withdraw Putin's invitation, and also rejecting what Indonesian sources say has been pressure from G7 nations to condemn Russia at the summit this week. Russia has said Putin was too busy to attend the summit with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov taking his place. Lavrov dismissed a news agency report on Monday that he had been taken to hospital in Bali with a heart condition and was present at the meeting. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the summit via video link, according to a tweet by the EU's ambassador in Indonesia. A joint G20 communique, which would need to be agreed by all parties, appears unlikely, with Indonesia instead pushing for a leaders' declaration, diplomatic sources say. However, European Council President Charles Michel said there was an agreement among officials on a text communique on Monday evening, which he described as "positive". G20 leaders will denounce the use of, or any threat to use, nuclear weapons, according to an early draft seen by Reuters. However, such a communique would need to be confirmed by the leaders. The G20 ministers' gatherings have failed to produce joint communiques due to disagreement between Russia and other members on language, including on how to describe the war in Ukraine. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday that Putin's regime will hear the chorus of global opposition to its actions. Sunak will call on G20 for coordinated action to address economic instability and the rising cost of living, his government said. Biden will be "unapologetic" in his defense of Ukraine, US officials have said. But Xi and Putin have grown increasingly close in recent years, and reaffirmed their partnership just days before Russia and Ukraine war began. Nevertheless. China has been careful not to provide any direct material support that could trigger Western sanctions against it. On Tuesday, Xi told French President Emmanuel Macron during a bilateral meeting that China advocated a ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks, Chinese state media reported. Ukraine's Zelenskiy late on Monday welcomed "weighty statements" being made ahead of the G20 including on the inadmissibility of threats to use nuclear weapons. On the sidelines of the summit, many of the leaders will hold bilateral talks, including several of them meeting Xi, who is making only his second visit overseas since the start of the pandemic. — SPA/agencies
