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The 19th annual G20 summit began in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, earlier today. U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov were in attendence. As well, leaders from 16 other nations along with organizations such as the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU) gathered for meetings taking place today and tomorrow.
Led by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, the 2024 summit in Brazil is the first summit for the AU. The AU was admitted during the 18th G20 summit in Delhi, India, last year. Founded in 2002, the AU currently represents 55 member states.
The G20 has held annual summits since 2008, with international, and nongovernmental organizations joining leaders of national governments. The New American has covered many issues addressed at G20 summits, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urging the G20 to help broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal in 2022, to Senior Editor William F. Jasper writing about the plans to expand the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2009, and Senior Editor Alex Newman covering the issue of a global currency in 2010.
2024 Summit
The 2024 summit meeting schedule includes the first session, “Combating Hunger and Poverty,” the second session, “Reform of Global Governance Institutions,” and the third session, “Sustainable Development and Energy Transition.” The closing ceremony will hand over the G20 presidency to South Africa. The summit will be held there in 2025.
Biden delivered remarks on climate change and conservation in Brazil yesterday, declaring November 17, 2024 as “International Conservation Day.” As stated in a presidential proclamation,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 17, 2024, as International Conservation Day.
Modi shared a photograph with Biden in a post on X, “With @POTUS Joe Biden at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Always a delight to meet him. @JoeBiden”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation announced Lavrov’s arrival to the G20 summit, posting on X:
🇷🇺 FM Sergey #Lavrov arrives to the venue, where the First Plenary Session of the #G20 Summit will be soon opened. On arrival he was greeted by President of the Federative Republic of #Brazil @LulaOficial . 📍 Rio de Janeiro, November 18
Earlier today, Lula claimed that the summit’s goals are global. He declared the launch of the “global alliance against hunger and poverty,” stating in a post on X:
The Alliance was born at the G20, but its destiny is global. May this Summit be marked by the courage to act. I hereby declare the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty officially launched.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated the summit under Lula’s leadership will address global crises, posting on X:
Glad to see you again @LulaOficial We are counting on Brazil’s leadership to ensure that the G20 moves forward to address global crises and challenges. No country should choose between fighting poverty and protecting the planet. France will do everything in this direction.
