While the global economy will dominate at this weekend's summit of the Group of 20 industrialised and emerging-market nations, politics and security issues form the backdrop to the gathering of world leaders in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
Terror attacks in Europe, the looming US presidential election and bloody ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq are among the issues making the world an uncertain and unsettling place.
World leaders including President Barack Obama, his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are expected to take up such topics, either when gathering as a group on Sunday and Monday or during bilateral meetings held on the summit's fringes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has grown closer to China following the imposition of Western economic sanctions, will be in attendance, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French Prime Minister Francois Hollande and new British Prime Minister Theresa May.
May will face questions about Britain's decision to leave the European Union and its impact on the global economy amid rising economic nationalism.
Despite the wealth of controversial issues, China seems determined to deliver a non-confrontational, even uneventful summit, having endowed it with the middle-of-the-road theme of: "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy."
"Accounting for two-thirds of the world population and more than 80 per cent of global economic output, G-20 nations deserve, and are expected, to play a bigger role in the managing the world economy," the official Xinhua News Agency said in a recent commentary.
"The upcoming summit is undoubtedly a prime opportunity." Climate change, human rights and the fight against the Islamic State group will also feature during the meetings, with Obama and Xi expected to offer an update on progress toward ratifying the Paris agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
White House officials have said they hope the historic climate change pact could enter into force by the end of the year.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be present at his first major multinational gathering since a failed summer coup added new tensions to an already complex relationship with the US and its allies.
Though no breakthroughs are expected, the gathering offers a chance for leaders to discuss disagreements ranging from China's claim to Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea to NATO's concerns over Russia's seizure of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine.
The G-20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
