At the summit of the world's powerful in Indonesia, the global challenges beyond the Ukraine war and Beijing's claim to become a superpower will be discussed faster than expected.

After the first meeting between China's President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Joe Biden, the leading industrialized and emerging countries made a visible effort to reach unity at their summit in Nusa Dua on the holiday island of Bali.

Christopher Hein

Business correspondent for South Asia/Pacific based in Singapore.

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Manfred Schaefers

Business correspondent in Berlin.

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In view of the abundance of overlapping world crises, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as host of the G20 Bali summit on Tuesday morning, appealed to the heads of state and government: "We should not dissect the world into parts.

We must not let the world fall into a new Cold War.” “Jokowi”, as he is known in Indonesia, welcomed the summit participants individually at the beginning of the ceremony with a ceremonial and solemn ceremony, and there was a friendly handshake for everyone – including Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who represented his President Vladimir Putin.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had formulated his expectations for the summit the evening before, immediately after his arrival in Bali.

First and foremost, this includes the war that Russia started against Ukraine, with all its consequences.

"It is also important that we work together to help the people who are now not being well fed and are starving."

"Current conflicts and tensions" have exacerbated food supply challenges, it said.

Scholz had previously said it was also about exports of grain from Ukraine, but also from Russia.

The Federal Chancellor also mentioned "man-made climate change" and "good and fair healthcare in the world" as other topics.

The COVID-19 pandemic in particular has taught us how important this is.

“Of course, it is also about how the economic recovery can be advanced in the face of a major crisis.” It is not only about the consequences of the pandemic, but also about “the new economic challenges, which are also a result of the Russian war .”

Widodo warns of "dark" 2023

The handshake between Biden and Xi on Monday had opened the door for further rapprochement in Bali: "There is a decision towards competition instead of a systemic conflict," commented Charles Michel, President of the European Council, on the meeting between Biden and Xi, which lasted several hours.

It was brought up before the G-20 summit, so as not to overload it with another hot topic alongside the debate about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Michel used the same phrases that Scholz had used in Vietnam and Singapore in the past few days: Europe, according to Michel, will deal with China.

"We don't want to be overly dependent on China for the innovative technology we need now and in the future," Michel said. "That's why rebalancing the relationship remains important, and that's why it is." important to work with the Chinese authorities.”

This trend also continued in long-awaited negotiations between Xi and his most important mineral supplier: On Tuesday afternoon, the new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Chinese President wanted to speak - it is the first meeting at this level since 2016. In a growing conflict between the two countries Beijing had imposed an import ban on Australian goods in 2020 - for the Western world, this action by Beijing was a wake-up call.

To date, the import of Australian goods worth more than 20 billion Australian dollars (13 billion euros) remains banned.

China's Premier Li Keqiang said before the last-minute meeting that they would "meet Australia halfway and get ties back on track."

Widodo once again urged participants on Tuesday to focus on the ultimate goals of the summit.

These include better global coordination in health crises, fighting inflation, which is particularly felt by people in emerging and developing countries, and above all the fight against growing hunger in the world.

"Don't underestimate the problem of fertilizer," Widodo said.

“Unless we intervene immediately to ensure sufficient availability of fertilizers at an affordable price, 2023 will be an even bleaker year.

The currently high food prices could escalate into a food crisis.” In the draft of their final declaration, the G20 states that “all available tools” should be used,

to address the crisis and protect vulnerable people from hunger.

"We will take further coordinated action to address food security challenges, including rising prices and global food and fertilizer shortages."