Little progress on the climate agenda // Xi Jinping calls for creating a global economy based on cooperation
Afp, Ap, Xinhua, Sputnik and Reuters
La Jornada Newspaper
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, p. 23
Rio de Janeiro., The leaders of the G-20 countries, meeting in Rio de Janeiro yesterday agreed on a declaration in which they demand a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, while supporting initiatives for a peace fair and lasting in Ukraine, without mentioning Russia, and they assume, in part, one of Brazil’s main flags in the group’s presidency: the need for the richest in the world to pay more taxes.
Although Brazil wanted to avoid it, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza marked the debates at the start of the summit, while the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, warned that the world is entering a period of great changes.
The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, began the ceremony of this summit, which takes place two weeks after Donald Trump’s victory in the United States.
The outgoing US president, Joe Biden, called on the G-20 leaders to increase pressure on Hamas for a ceasefire, while calling to defend the integrity of Ukraine.
The final declaration states that the G-20 supports the initiatives relevant and constructive for one broad, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and adds that this must be in line with the principles of the United Nations (UN) and promote relations friendly and good between neighboring countries, the document states, without mentioning Russia.
Add the text: We are united in supporting a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, allowing citizens to safely return to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line.which delimits the border between Lebanese territory and Israel.
The document expresses Concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in Lebanon, we emphasize the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance and strengthen the protection of civilians.
Lula’s proposal to tax the super-rich and with those resources “face the social and environmental challenges of our time” was accepted.
With full respect for tax sovereignty, we will seek to cooperate to ensure that ultra-high net worth individuals pay taxes effectivelyis stated in the statement.
G-20 leaders conclude that new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), dramatically impacted the speed, scale and scope of unintentional and intentional disinformation and hate speechbut they also recognize the potential of the same to reduce inequalities and facilitate information.
In the discussions, Xi Jinping called for improving global economic governance and building a global economy characterized by cooperation. International financial institutions and commercial creditors must participate in debt reduction and suspension of developing countrieshe stressed.
Lula insists on reforming the UN
In the session dedicated to discussing the reforms of multilateral bodies, Lula stressed the need to reform the UN. The omission of the Security Council has in itself been a threat to international peace and security, the indiscriminate use of the veto makes the body hostage to the five permanent members and cited the examples of Ukraine or Gaza; Likewise, he stated that disastrous interventions They subverted order in Afghanistan and Libya and that indifference relegated Sudan and Haiti to oblivion.
Lula presented the World Alliance against Hunger, a personal project – beyond the G-20 – whose objective is to eradicate hunger and poverty by 2030 and reduce inequalities. The initiative was signed by the 82 participants, with the exception that Argentina joined, but dissociating of some points, such as greater state intervention to fight hunger, as he assured that the solution is in running to the Middle State (sic) and free the marketassured President Javier Milei.
The Argentine president signed the final declaration but also dissociated of several points, including the one regarding the regulation of social networks, with the argument that it promotes the limitation of freedom of expression.
Milei and Lula have a tense relationship; Milei called him thief and corruptwhile Lula pointed out that his counterpart says a lot of nonsense. When they met again in Rio de Janeiro, they barely looked at each other; it was a greeting that contrasted with the handshakes and hugs with which the host received the visitors.
The summit made little climate progress in its final declaration, as it avoided mentioning the commitment that the international community adopted at COP28 to progressively move away from dependence on fossil energies, despite the call of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, let them be done concessions in order to save the planet.
Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Italian counterpart, Georgia Meloni, arrived late and did not appear in the official photo.
The Paraguayan president, Santiago Peña, was admitted to the Samaritano hospital after feeling chest pains during the summit.