Obama at G-20 to discuss global economy: WH

Washington: US President Barack Obama will discuss concrete actions with world leaders to strengthen the global economy and make growth more inclusive at the G-20 summit next week, a top presidential aide said today.

“The President will discuss concrete actions to strengthen the global economy, to make growth more inclusive, to enhance the resilience of the international financial system, mobilise investment to raise long term growth, and implement previous commitments on economic reform and labor markets,” said Susan Rice, the US National Security Advisor, ahead of the President’s week-long Asia trip.

In addition to the G20’s core economic and financial issues, the President will address additional challenges, including climate change, cyber-security, refugees, global health security and counter-terrorism, she said.

“The setting in Turkey, in addition, obviously will make Syria a topic of conversation. The venue will provide a forum to reinforce the complimentary nature of our military and diplomatic efforts to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIS. As we work to bring about a political solution to the broader Syrian conflict,” Rice said.

The G20 Summit in Turkey is being attended by top global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Obama and Modi are likely to meet on the sidelines of the G-20 summit. But the White House did not list Obama-Modi meeting among the bilateral released by it during the trip-preview news conference.

From Turkey, Obama would head to Asia for six days travel to Philippines and Malaysia where the focus would be in the recentlyagreed upon Trans-Pacific Partnership and Administration’s broader, re-balance to Asia, Rice said.

“At its heart, the President’s re-balance to Asia is about building a rules-based order in Asia, in which all countries pursue their national interests and their prosperity peacefully,” she said.

“We’re working to strengthen respect for international norms, principles and values that offer everyone in the region an opportunity to compete and grow on an equal footing. And that certain shared responsibilities are assumed irrespective of relative size or strength,” Rice said.

Every facet of the re-balance is aimed at advancing this vision, she said adding that the US is working to promote it on multiple fronts that you will see as evident during the course of the trip.

“We’re strengthening relations with our treaty allies, we’re building ties to new partners, and strengthening regional institutions such as APEC and the East Asia Summit in meetings that the President will participate in next week,” she said.