G20 news – live: Cambodia PM tests positive for Covid days after hosting world leaders

Cambodian leader said he had tested positive last night and that the test had been confirmed this morning

Rishi Sunak to use G20 to 'unequivocally condemn' Ukraine-Russia war

Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen tested positive for Covid-19 at the summit, days after hosting world leaders, including Joe Biden, in capital Phnom Penh.

On his Facebook page, the Cambodian leader said he had tested positive last night and that the test had been confirmed this morning.

Meanwhile, G20 is going to issue a statement at the end of the summit condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine, a senior US official said.

“I think you’re going to see most members of the G20 make clear that they condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine, that they see Russia’s war in Ukraine as the root source of immense economic and humanitarian suffering in the world,” the official was quoted as saying by AFP.

Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo said today that the world must not fall into another Cold War and that “it would be difficult for the world to move forward” unless the war ends.

Also, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told the G20 that “now is the time when Russia’s war must and can be stopped” during his virtual address to world leaders.

“We will not allow Russia to wait out and build up its forces.”

Key Points

• G20 to issue a statement condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine
• ‘End this barbaric war’: Rishi Sunak confronts Russia over Ukraine at G20 summit
• Cambodian PM tests positive for Covid-19 after hosting summit in Phnom Penh
• Xi Jinping warns against ‘weaponisation of food and energy’
• Biden meets Xi for a closed-door meeting in Bali
• Australian PM Anthony Albanese to meet China’s Xi

[15 November 2022 05:58 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

ICYMI: Chinese officials speak out in unprecedented criticism of Russia on eve of G20

Officials in China have expressed their displeasure at Russia’s actions in Ukraine, including Vladimir Putin’s non-disclosure of his plans to invade, and condemned the “irresponsibility” of suggested nuclear threats ahead of the G20 summit in Indonesia.

Mr Putin did not tell his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping “the truth”, reported the Financial Times citing a Chinese official, who said that the two leaders had hailed a “no limits” alliance between Moscow and Beijing when they met just 20 days before the Kremlin launched its invasion on Ukraine in February.

“If he had told us, we wouldn’t have been in such an awkward position,” the official said.

Read the full story by Arpan Rai here:

[15 November 2022 06:15 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Indonesia urges world leaders to unite and take 'concrete action' to 'save the world'

Indonesian president Joko Widodo urged world leaders at G20 for unity and said that concrete action is needed to save the world.

During his opening statement today, Mr Widodo said: “We have no other option, collaboration is needed to save the world.”

He added: “G20 must be the catalyst for inclusive economic recovery. We should not divide the world into parts. We must not allow the world to fall into another cold war.”

[15 November 2022 06:30 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Rishi Sunak tells world leaders Russia's war has 'profound implications for us all'

Rishi Sunak warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has “profound implications for us all, because it has undermined the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The British prime minister told world leaders at the G20 summit that “we all depend on these principles. They are the foundations of the international order. They must be upheld. It is very simple – countries should not invade their neighbours, they should not attack civilian infrastructure and civilian populations and they should not threaten nuclear escalation. Surely these are things on which we can all agree”.

He continued: “The weaponisation of energy and food is totally unacceptable. Two-thirds of Ukraine’s grain goes to developing countries, yet Russia has destroyed grain stores and blocked shipments.

“It is harming the most vulnerable people around the world. And this has nothing to do with sanctions. All of us should support the secretary general’s efforts to get the Black Sea grain initiative back on track.”

[15 November 2022 06:42 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

G20 leaders say today's era 'must not be of war'

A draft statement by the G20 world leaders will say that today’s era “must not be of war”, according to the Financial Times.The draft statement also condemned threats of nuclear weapons use.

The two senior delegates to the G20 also confirmed that “most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy.”

The draft comes after days of negotiations between officials from western countries and Russia and China, it says.

“The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital. Today’s era must not be of war,” the draft statement said.

[15 November 2022 07:00 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Emmanuel Macron says China and France ‘determined’ to put an end to war

French president Emmanuel Macron today called for close coordination between France and China and respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

He tweeted: “Together with President Xi Jinping, we call for respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The consequences of this conflict go beyond European borders: it is through close coordination between France and China that we will overcome them.”

He added: “Putting an end to the escalation and dealing with the consequences of the war in Ukraine, supporting the most vulnerable economies, decarbonising our economies and acting to protect biodiversity: France and China are determined.”

[15 November 2022 07:06 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Xi Jinping says China and France should deepen cooperation while respecting mutual interests

Chinese President Xi Jinping said today that China and France should deepen cooperation and promote progress in traditional areas, but should also respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, Reuters reported.

Mr Xi told Mr Macron during a bilateral meeting in Bali that China hopes France can provide a fairer, more just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies in France.

[15 November 2022 07:21 · Emily Atkinson]

China poses 'biggest state-based threat to our economic security,’ says Sunak

China poses the “biggest state-based threat to Britain’s economic security” and a sytemic challenge to our values, prime minister Rishi Sunak said.

Speaking at the G20 summit in Bali, which China’s Xi Jinping is also attending, Mr Sunak told reporters: “My view is that China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests and it represents the biggest state-based threat to our economic security.

“I think that view, by the way, is highly aligned with our allies.”

The PM said it was “important” the UK defends itself against that, for example through the National Security Investment Act, which allows the government to block investment in UK companies that might affect the country’s security.

He went on to say: “But I also think that China is an indisputable fact of the global economy and we’re not going to be able to resolve shared global challenges like climate change, or public health, or indeed actually dealing with Russia and Ukraine, without having a dialogue with them.”

Mr Sunak left open the possibility that he could meet Mr Xi, saying ahead of the Bali gathering: “Hopefully I will have a chance to talk to him too.”

[15 November 2022 07:32 · Emily Atkinson]

Indonesia urges leaders to brace for future health threats

An intellectual property waiver “must be widened” for all health solutions, including diagnostics and therapeutics, Indonesian president Joko Widodo told the G20 summit.

The president also said in a speech before opening a session on health that the Covid pandemic was a reminder that the world should brace for other health threats in future.