G20, a club of countries that represent 90% of the global economy

The G20, including heads of state gather Thursday in London, was established in the late 1990s in response to crises in Russia and Asia, and includes the major industrialized and emerging countries on the planet.

•     It includes the G7 club of major developed countries (Canada, United States, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom), plus a dozen emerging countries (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, and Turkey).
  
      The twentieth place is occupied by the European Union, represented by the country holding the rotating presidency (currently, the Czech Republic).
  
      The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) also participate in its work.
  
      According to its founders, this group represents 90% of global gross domestic product, 80% of international trade (including trade within the EU) and the two-thirds of the world, giving it a political weight and strong legitimacy.
  
      His birth took place in 1999 at the initiative of the G7. Following the financial crises that had erupted successively in Asia, Russia and Latin America, the club of rich countries wanted to establish an enlarged major world powers, including the emerging countries could work together to resolve and avoid turbulence.
  
      More broadly, the G20 also serves as a forum on fiscal and monetary issues, growth, trade and energy.
  
      Initially confined to an annual meeting of finance ministers and central bankers, the G20 has grown in size last year with the financial crisis, when its first summit of heads of state took place on 15 November in Washington at the invitation of former U.S. President George W. Bush.
  
      In addition to the permanent members of the group, the United Kingdom, who chairs the G20 this year, has invited several other countries and international organizations at the top of the April 2, including Spain, the Association of the nations of Southeast Asia (Asean), the African Union and New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad).
  
      The second summit of leaders of the G20 will be held in the largest conference center in London, Excel, in the east of the British capital.
  
      
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.