Who is attending the G20 summit?

Leaders from the world's top economies will gather on the Indonesian resort island of Bali

By
AFP
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(l to r) Volodymyr Zelensky, Narendra Modi, Rishi Sunak.— Reuters
(l to r) Volodymyr Zelensky, Narendra Modi, Rishi Sunak.— Reuters

NUSA DUA, INDONESIA: Leaders from the world's top economies will gather on the Indonesian resort island of Bali next week for a G20 summit overshadowed by the war in Ukraine.

Here is a snapshot of who will attend:

Joe Biden

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks after touring the General Motors Factory ZERO electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. November 17, 2021.— Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks after touring the General Motors 'Factory ZERO' electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. November 17, 2021.— Reuters

The US leader will arrive in Indonesia to reassert America's leadership on the world stage and to again rally Western allies behind Washington's effort to increasingly isolate Russia over its Ukraine invasion. Before that, he will hold direct talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The pair are not short of topics to discuss, with Washington and Beijing at loggerheads over issues ranging from trade to human rights and the status of Taiwan.

Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an extended-format meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states at a summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022.— Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an extended-format meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states at a summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022.— Reuters

The G20 summit will serve as a diplomatic re-emergence for Xi following his confirmation in October as China's leader for a third term.

As well as meeting Biden, he is also set for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron less than a fortnight after hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing.

Sergei Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a joint news conference with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in Moscow, Russia February 10, 2022. — Reuters
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a joint news conference with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in Moscow, Russia February 10, 2022. — Reuters

Moscow's top diplomat will head the Russian delegation after President Vladimir Putin said he would not attend, in an apparent bid to shield the Russian leader from criticism on the international stage.

The Kremlin blamed his absence on scheduling conflicts. Lavrov walked out of a G20 meeting in Bali in July after the Ukraine invasion was condemned, and he can expect another cold reception.

Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the nation after a meeting of the Security and Defense Council after Russias decision to formally recognize two Moscow-backed regions of eastern Ukraine as independent, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 22, 2022.— Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the nation after a meeting of the Security and Defense Council after Russia's decision to formally recognize two Moscow-backed regions of eastern Ukraine as independent, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 22, 2022.— Reuters

The Ukrainian president will attend the summit virtually at the invitation of Indonesia. He is expected to lobby global leaders for a stronger response to Russia's invasion.

EU leaders

French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel and EU leaders arrive for a family photo during an informal summit at the Chateau de Versailles.— Reuters
French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel and EU leaders arrive for a family photo during an informal summit at the Chateau de Versailles.— Reuters

Macron will be the biggest name representing the European Union at the summit and is expected to meet with China's Xi. Scholz will be representing Europe's biggest economy, while Italy will be led by far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel will prop up the EU's representation.

Rishi Sunak

Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak attends a virtual press conference inside 10 Downing Street in central London, Britain March 3, 2021. — Reuters
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak attends a virtual press conference inside 10 Downing Street in central London, Britain March 3, 2021. — Reuters

Britain's new prime minister will head to his first G20 summit to meet Western allies, in particular Biden, to discuss bilateral ties and multilateral cooperation on the AUKUS pact with Australia and the United States.

Narendra Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Quad leaders’ summit, in Tokyo, Japan, May 24, 2022.— Reuters
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Quad leaders’ summit, in Tokyo, Japan, May 24, 2022.— Reuters

The leader of the Asian powerhouse will be top of the meeting list for many G20 leaders, with bilaterals planned with Biden, Macron and Sunak, Britain's first leader of Indian descent.

Jakarta will pass the G20 baton to New Delhi, with Modi taking on the leadership of the bloc in a time of global crises.

Joko Widodo

Indonesias President Joko Widodo speaks at the Istana in Singapore October 8, 2019.— Reuters
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo speaks at the Istana in Singapore October 8, 2019.— Reuters

The host of the meeting will have bilateral meetings with almost all the visiting leaders as chair of the G20.

He hoped to focus the meeting on global cooperation and economic recovery but the Ukraine war — on which Jakarta is neutral — has overtaken proceedings.

Rest of the world

G7 members Canada, Australia and Japan will be represented by their respective premiers Justin Trudeau, Anthony Albanese and Fumio Kishida. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will be in Bali after a record spate of North Korean missile tests.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will represent the kingdom, while the United Arab Emirates' President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be in tow.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend in person, while the only African nation in the G20, South Africa, will be led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Brazil will be represented by Foreign Minister Carlos Franca despite the election win of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva because of a transition period for the new president.

Mexico will also be represented by its top diplomat, foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard, while Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez will head Buenos Aires' delegation to Bali.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend as an observer.