Robert Milliner: China set the right themes and vision for G20 Summit

The 2016 G20 Summit will take place in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou from September 4 to 5, against a backdrop of sluggish global economic growth and the rise of trade and investment protectionism. This is the first time that China hosts the Summit. The world is now watching how China will use the opportunity of hosting the G20 Summit to promote global economic growth and push for reforms in global governance.

What may we expect from the upcoming G20 Summit? Robert Milliner, Senior Adviser to the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce who serves as a special adviser to China B20 2106 and member of the China B20 International Cooperation Committee, was recently interviewed by China Pictorial, for seeking answers to these questions.

China Pictorial: What outcomes do you expect in this year’s G20 Summit in Hangzhou?

Milliner: Over the last few years the G20 has focused on sluggish global growth and unemployment with action plans agreed in Brisbane in 2014 to lift global growth by 2 percent over five years recommitted to in Antalya in November 2015. China has provided continuity to this commitment with a focus on structural reforms and trade and investment; but has added new themes on innovation and interconnectivity.

I would expect G20 leaders to express continued concern on uneven and slow global growth and rising unemployment, particularly given technology disruption, rising community concern around globalization and the push for more protectionism in some countries.

In many economies, governments need to take more action on structural reform agendas as well as appropriate fiscal stimulus where there is budget capacity. Notwithstanding community concerns on the impact of globalization, we need the G20 to commit to the trade growth plans, as well as the investment policy proposals, agreed upon by trade ministers in Shanghai in July, and to acknowledge its commitments to roll back protectionist measures. In addition, I also expect G20 leaders to acknowledge the significance of continued investment in infrastructure, especially renewable energy infrastructure consistent with the Paris agreement commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to commit to action to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and SMEs with recognition of the role of e-commerce.

The main issue is, however, for G20 leaders to acknowledge the need to take coordinated specific actions in their home countries to address growth and employment issues.

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