China invites record number of developing nations to G20 meet

A record number of developing countries will attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou in early September, said China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, said at a press conference together with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith, left. (Rolex Dela Pena/Pool Photo via AP)

China has invited a record number of developing countries to the G20 summit to be held in eastern Chinese city Hangzhou in early next month, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. A record number of developing countries will attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou in early September, said Wang said at a press conference together with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith.

China has invited five developing countries to the G20 summit: Chad, chair of the African Union; Laos, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); Senegal, chair of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD); Egypt; and Kazakhstan, sate-run Xinhua news agency reported. Thailand, as the chair of the G77 this year, also expressed willingness to attend the summit, Wang said.

“The developing world is best represented in the upcoming summit in Hangzhou, making it the most inclusive,” Wang said, adding China is confident in hosting a successful G20 summit. The foreign minister said there will be nearly 30 deliverable outcomes at the Hangzhou summit, making it one of the most fruitful summits in G20 history.