The G20 Summit began today in this port city as world leaders assembled to discuss fight against terrorism and ways to improve open trade while Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his counterparts from the BRICS bloc. While host German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the leaders to open the 12th G20 Summit, a separate meeting of BRICS leaders took place on the sidelines. The official details of the BRICS meet could not be immediately ascertained.
Outside the Summit venue, violent protests continued by various rights groups, including anti-capitalist groupings. The police had to resort to water canons, tear gas and pepper spray. Modi reached here last evening and has bilateral meetings lined up with various leaders, including from Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Modi will participate in the leaders' retreat and the sessions on Global Growth and Trade and on Sustainable Development, Climate and Energy. Later in the evening, he will attend a concert for leaders at Elphilharmonie. This port city has been converted into a fortress for the Summit, which is being attended by 4,800 journalists from more than 67 countries.
Fighting terrorism, climate change and global trade are expected to be the key areas of discussion at the two-day Summit, whose theme is 'Shaping an Inter-connected World'. The meet is taking place at a time when differences have emerged among several leaders expected to be present -- mostly on publicly stated views of US President Donald Trump -- including on issues like climate change and open trade. Russia's Vladimir Putin, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, France's Emmanuel Macron and the UK's Theresa May will be participating in the Summit. While Hamburg happens to be city of birth for the Summit host Merkel, it is also known as an 'anti-establishment bastion' of Left-wing radicals. PTI
