Washington, August 04: Senior White House officials would on Tuesday meet diplomats from the top economies, including those from India to give a final touch to the preparation for G-20 summit in the US next month, likely to be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The US President Barack Obama has invited leaders of top 20 economies to meet at Pittsburg in Pennsylvania to discuss the current global economic crisis and the progress made after the previous G-20 Summit in London in April.
Dr. Singh is scheduled to attend the summit.
“The President and First Lady look forward to welcoming world leaders to the Pittsburgh Summit September 24-25,” the White House said, adding that it is working closely with state and local officials to plan for a successful and productive meeting.
At the Pittsburgh Summit, President Obama and leaders representing 85 per cent of the world’s economy will assess progress made since the Washington and London G-20 Summits and discuss further steps to achieve a sound and sustainable recovery from the global financial and economic crisis.
Countries and organisations participating in the Pittsburgh Summit would be having a tour of the David L Lawrence Convention Centre which will be the primary home of the summit and additional event sites today, the White House said.
The President and First Lady look forward to welcoming leaders, their spouses and officials to Pittsburgh at the city’s Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
After welcoming the leaders and spouses, President Obama and world leaders will remain at the conservatory for a working dinner. Known as “the Green Heart of Pittsburgh,” Phipps’ earth-sheltered Welcome Centre was the first LEED-certified building in a public garden.
Its newest addition, the Tropical Forest Conservatory, is the world’s most energy efficient conservatory and is the only conservatory powered by a solid oxide fuel cell.
Demonstrating the possibilities presented by employing new and innovative technology to further economic recovery and development, the Pittsburgh Summit will be held at the David L Lawrence Convention Centre in downtown Pittsburgh.
The facility was the first “green” convention centre in the world to be awarded the LEEDR Gold Certification by the US Green Building Council for leadership in energy and environmental design.
The First Lady, the White House said, is also looking forward to welcoming and hosting the Pittsburgh Summit spousal program. Following the leaders reception, the programme will kick off with a private dinner for spouses at the farm of well known Pittsburgh philanthropist Teresa Heinz.
The farm is set in the rolling hills just outside of Pittsburgh and will serve as a beautiful and intimate place for the spouses to gather.
–PTI