G20: Unexpected talks smooth way ahead of summit

Malcolm Turnbull has held talks with US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of meetings to discuss international security.

The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull walks justb ahead of Barack Obama at the G20. Picture: Gary Ramage

Malcolm Turnbull has held his first talks with US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of formal meetings with both leaders in the next few days to discuss economic ties and international security.

The Prime Minister spoke to both leaders as well as Indonesian President Joko Widodo in an unexpected and informal group discussion at the G20 summit in Turkey, moments before the official “family photo” of world leaders.

The Australian was told the conversation went for several minutes and will smooth the way for the formal bilateral talks on Tuesday and Wednesday with the leaders of the world’s biggest economies.

The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull walks justb ahead of Barack Obama at the G20. Picture: Gary Ramage

With the assaults in Paris dominating this year’s G20 and overshadowing the event’s economic agenda, Mr Turnbull has been part of the debate on how to toughen the protections against terrorism and defeat Islamic State.

In a promising development, Mr Obama spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G20 and the two had a public handshake at the “family photo” in a move that raised talk of an agreement between the two powers on a political settlement in Syria.

The two leaders spoke for 35 minutes to seek an agreement that could help defeat Islamic State in Syria.

“President Obama and President Putin agreed on the need for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition, which would be preceded by UN-mediated negotiations between the Syrian opposition and regime as well a ceasefire,” a White House official told Agence France Press.

US President Barack Obama, left, speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, prior to the opening session of the G20 summit. Picture: AP

Mr Turnbull has spoken of the need for military action to defeat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq but has emphasised the greater goal of a political solution.

Talks at the G20 have also have also turned to economic growth and climate change, with countries negotiating how they might deliver on a “Brisbane Action Plan” agreed at last year’s G20 in Australia, which was meant to create jobs.

Most countries, including Australia, are struggling to deliver on the pledges from last year but are expected to restate their plans to add to growth.

Mr Obama used his remarks in one of the early sessions at the Turkish resort town of Antalya to urge a strong outcome at the G20 on climate change.

Officials who heard his remarks said that he pressed for firm language in the G20 communique to support the negotiations in Paris in the coming weeks to get a bigger United Nations agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Others leaders backed the US President on this goal.

Mr Turnbull has used the G20 to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council president Donald Tusk, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

He holds formal talks with Mr Xi on Monday at the G20 summit. His talks with Mr Obama will be held on Tuesday at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the Philippines, highlighting the pace of “summit season” for world leaders.