The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, held in Asheville, North Carolina, on 31 August and 1 September 2026, concluded without a joint statement after China objected to several sections of the proposed text.
The United States, holding the 2026 G20 Presidency, issued a Chair’s Statement, noting that all participating G20 members agreed to the text except China, which objected to paragraphs covering energy and supply chains, global economic imbalances, IMF surveillance and sovereign debt issues.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said 19 members supported language calling for action on “excessive and persistent external surpluses” and policies that create an overreliance on exports for growth.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing regretted that the meeting ended without a communiqué, arguing that G20 discussions should be conducted through “objective, fair and balanced” consultations. He said China remained committed to working with other members to strengthen economic cooperation and support global growth.
Key points from the statement:
- G20 members called for stronger global economic growth, investment and resilient supply chains.
- Members highlighted artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and financial innovation as drivers of future growth.
- The statement reaffirmed efforts on sovereign debt restructuring and financial stability.
- Members backed greater cooperation on financial literacy and responsible digital asset regulation.
The meeting was also marked by disagreement over Russia’s participation, after the United States invited Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to attend the G20 Finance Track discussions.
The move drew criticism from some European officials, including German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who said Russia’s presence sent a “troubling” signal while the war in Ukraine continued.
Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski also expressed concerns over Moscow’s involvement, although he acknowledged the host country’s role in inviting participants. US officials defended the decision, arguing that maintaining dialogue through the G20 remained important.
ℹ️ US Department of the Treasury
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