Xi Jinping officially opens G-20 summit in China

By AP

Published: Sun 4 Sep 2016, 2:21 PM

Last updated: Sun 4 Sep 2016, 4:24 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping has officially opened a two-day summit of the world's major economies, saying the Group of 20 should adopt new measures to generate growth momentum and avoid protectionism.
The 11th G-20 economic forum takes place in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
Xi shook hands and posed for photos Sunday afternoon with leaders including President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin with a G-20 backdrop. The leaders then traveled up several flights of stairs to a summit conference room.
In opening remarks, Xi said the world economy is recovering but faces multiple challenges in finance, trade and investment.
He said the summit will discuss innovation-driven growth and more efficient global economic and financial governance.
In their first meeting together, British Prime Minister Theresa May has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that she wants a "frank and open relationship" with Moscow despite their differences.
Bilateral relations have been strained in recent years by the fighting in Ukraine, Russia's backing of Syrian President Bashar Assad and the poisoning death of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London.
At their meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in China, May told Putin the world faces many challenges today.
She said: "And while I recognize there will be some differences between us, there are some complex and serious areas of concern and issues to discuss, I hope we will be able to have a frank and open relationship and dialogue."