Obama to attend G20 summit

Leaders of the US and Canada will participate in the G20 - to be hosted by China for the first time - in early September.

US President Barack Obama will travel to China to attend the G20 and Laos from Sept 2-9, the White House announced on Thursday.

In China, Obama will participate in his final G20 Leaders' Summit, where he will emphasize the need to continue building on the progress made since 2009 in advancing strong, sustainable and balanced global economic growth.

He will underscore the importance of G20 cooperation in promoting a level-playing field and broad-based economic opportunity.

Obama will also conduct in-depth meetings with President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou, eastern China's Zhejiang province, where the G20 will be held. The two leaders will discuss a wide-range of global, regional and bilateral issues, according to the White House.

This trip will highlight Obama's ongoing commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation as well as the US rebalance to Asia and the Pacific, said the White House.

This is the president's 11th trip to Asia since taking office in 2009. Obama will be the first US president to visit Laos, where he will participate in the US-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that he will travel to China for an official visit from Aug 30 to Sept 6 at the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang.

During the official visit, Trudeau will also participate in the G20 Leaders' Summit on Sept 4 and 5 in Hangzhou.

At the Hangzhou Summit, G20 leaders will consider measures to lift global economic growth and investment, create jobs, strengthen the middle class, reinforce the resilience of the global financial system and increase trade and investment.

Canada welcomes the agenda brought forward by China as this year's G20 host, which encourages members to work together towards an innovative, interconnected and inclusive world economy.

"Canada firmly believes in the work of the G20 and its ability to promote strong, sustainable, and inclusive global growth and prosperity," Trudeau said. "We place great importance on working with our G20 partners to help address some of the world's most pressing challenges, like climate change, migration and sustainable development."

SEE "G20" PAGE 2

(China Daily 08/19/2016 page1)