Rome – The G20 summit is underway in Rome, for the first time in Italy. In the late morning the leaders arrived in dribs and drabs at the Nuvola di Fuksas, at Eur. The Prime Minister Mario Draghi welcomed them. At the center of the agenda of the Heads of State and Government, mainly the themes of the fight against the pandemic, global security, and climate change. Among the first measures that the leaders undertake to implement, there is that of the compact support for the OECD agreement on the global minimum tax for multinationals with a rate of 15% by 2023. This is what emerges from the first draft of the conclusions of the summit.
All the heads of state and government agreed that the reduction of inequalities should represent the beacon of the action of the global community in the years to come. Hand in hand, the vaccines they must be made available to all in a more equitable way. The goal set by WHO is to vaccinate at least 40% of the global population by 2021 and at least 70% of the global population by 2022.
The climate draft
The G20 will confirm its intention to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees but will avoid indicating stringent commitments. This is what transpires from a draft of the final statement reported by Reuters on the site and confirmed by EU sources. “We remain committed to the goal of keeping the global average temperature rise well below 2 ° C and to continue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees with” significant and effective actions “by countries. However, as in the previous draft, there is no mention of the need for “immediate action” and there is no reference to the zero emissions target by 2050 except for a generic “by mid-century”. Sources from Palazzo Chigi let it be known that “The drafts leaked so far are preliminary versions: the Sherpas are at work and will continue their session all night”.
Draghi-Erdogan meeting
A bilateral meeting between Mario Draghi and Turkish President Recep Erdogan took place shortly before 4pm. The meeting focused on the global challenges at the heart of the Italian G20 Presidency, as well as on the bilateral partnership and the opportunities for its further strengthening. Also at the center of the constructive exchange of views EU-Turkey relations, the Afghan crisis and stability in the Mediterranean, with particular attention to developments in the intra-Libyan political process. Palazzo Chigi makes it known. This is the first face to face between the two who, only a few months ago, had crossed their sabers. Draghi had called Erdogan “a dictator” and the Turkish president had replied by calling him “rude and impertinent”. Draghi had lashed out at Erdogan, who had hosted a summit with the EU leaders, in which the president of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, was left without a chair. Also noteworthy is the meeting, with attached handshake, between the Turkish premier and the president of the European Commission, the first post “sofa gate” opportunity.
Draghi also met with the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi. Having dealt with the issues of access to vaccines and economic recovery in Africa, the premier asked for updates on the investigations concerning the murder of Ambassador Luca Attanasio and of the carabiniere Vittorio Iacovacci.
The intervention of China
Chinese President Xi Jinping urges developed countries to lead by example in terms of reducing emissions. In his video conference speech at the G20 in Rome, Xi specified that countries with advanced economies must “fully embrace the difficulties and concerns of developing countries, implement their commitments on climate finance and provide technology, capabilities and other support for developing countries ”. Xi Jinping also asked to make it global development «more equitable, effective and inclusive to ensure that no country is left behind ”. Before the summit, through a note, China warned the United States and its allies from intervening in matters relating to Taiwan: “They would pay the price,” reads the statement released by Beijing.
Putin: “We need mutual recognition of the Green Pass”
The Russian president Vladimir Putin he attended the summit via videoconference, he invited the world’s greats to work on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates. In his place, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be present.
The commitment against gender inequality
At the end of the first meeting, Mario Draghi and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, special advocate of the UN Secretary General for Inclusive Development Funding, spoke. The premier reiterated the need to commit to reducing gender inequalities, especially in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises. “We need to do more to protect women entrepreneurs”, the words of Queen Maxima.
The meetings of the morning
12.05 pm – The first session of the proceedings, dedicated to “Global economy and global health”, kicks off. The opening speech is entrusted to Prime Minister Mario Draghi. «It is a pleasure to welcome you to Rome, the pandemic has divided us, but multilateralism it is the only possible answer to the problems of the world », began Draghi.
The premier then pushed on the issue of vaccination: «The goal is to immunize 70% of the world population, the differences in the distribution of serums are morally unacceptable. The pandemic is not over, but we can finally look to the future with optimism ». “We are building a new economic model – he added – and the world will be better”. The focal point of Draghi’s speech, therefore, is the reduction of inequalities: «As the presidency of the G20 – continues the prime minister – Italy has worked to promote a more equitable recovery. The Global Health Summit in Rome saw countries and companies generously commit to providing vaccines to the poorest countries: we must be sure we are delivering on promises. We have reached a historic agreement for a fairer and more effective international taxation system ».
11.45 am – It’s time for group photos, which he also took part in a representation of doctors and nurses of the province of Bergamo, greeted by the applause of the leaders.
11.34 – One of the last to reach the summit, slightly late, is the president of the United States Joe Biden.
11.07 – The current president of the African Union and president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi, has also arrived at the Cloud. For the first time, on an Italian initiative, the African Union is participating in a G20. A few minutes later it was the turn of Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel.
10.53 am – The Turkish president has also reached the Cloud Recep Erdogan, the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yy and the Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. It was the first meeting between Draghi and Erdogan after the tensions following the statements by Draghi, who last April called the Turkish president “a dictator”.
10.35 am – The UK Prime Minister has also arrived Boris Johnson, the Canadian premier Justin Trudeau and the President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen. Johnson praised Draghi in the bilateral meeting that preceded the start of the summit: «Congratulations on your G20. You handled it brilliantly, you did a great job, ”Johnson’s words.
Today’s program
The first session of the work started at 11.45 and has as its topic “the economy and global health”. After the lunch break, at 3 pm the event on the sidelines “Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and women’s businesses to grow better” is scheduled. Special speaker Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, special advocate of the UN Secretary General for Inclusive Development Funding (UNSGSA). At the end of the first day, an appointment with culture for the heads of state and government who, starting at 7.00 pm, will enjoy an armored visit to the Baths of Diocletian before moving to the Quirinale for dinner with President Sergio Mattarella. On the sidelines of the plenary, bilateral meetings are planned, including that of Prime Minister Draghi with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and that on Iran between Presidents Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The sit-in for the climate
The Police Headquarters has prepared a security plan that has an inaccessible red zone that protects the entire neighborhood. Just near the perimeter of the area, around 8 this morning a group of 50 activists blocked the Christopher Columbus at the height of the Ministry of Ecological Transition. When the police intervened to clear the sit-in, the activists allowed themselves to be lifted by passive resistance.
“If it doesn’t change, we’ll block the city,” climate activists screamed. Armored vehicles and riot police officers on the spot.
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