The two-day G20 summit kicked off in the Italian capital, Rome, on Saturday, with the attendance of most leaders of member states, led by the presidents of the United States, France and Turkey, at a time when the leaders of China and Russia are participating from a distance.

The activities began with Italian Prime Minister Mario Radaghi receiving the leaders of the participating countries in front of the gate of the "Novola" Convention Center in the capital, Rome.

The summit will discuss a number of files, including sustainable development, climate challenges, the Corona pandemic and its effects on the global economy.

The summit was preceded by bilateral meetings that brought together US Presidents Joe Biden and French Emmanuel Macron.

More meetings will be held between the leaders of Germany, Britain, the United States and France to discuss the Iranian nuclear file.

The summit will witness several bilateral meetings (Getty Images)

draft statement

A draft statement seen by Reuters revealed that large countries are likely to tighten their pledges to act to combat climate change slightly, but will not set tough new goals that activists say are necessary to prevent an environmental catastrophe.

The draft final statement from the Group of Twenty said that the group's countries, which contribute 80% of global carbon emissions, will intensify their efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a level that scientists say is necessary to avoid catastrophic new climate patterns.

The statement also said the leaders also recognized the importance of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century, a goal that some of the world's most polluting countries are still not committed to.

discussions and discussions

Although climate debate will dominate most discussions on the summit's first day, the talks will also include the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.

Leaders will also discuss concerns about rising energy prices and a prolonged supply chain crisis.

They are also expected to formulate plans to vaccinate 70 percent of the world's population against COVID-19 by mid-2022 and form a task force to combat any future pandemic.

Several demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday in Rome called by unions, the far left and environmental organizations, with thousands of people expected to participate.

More than 5,000 police, gendarmes and soldiers have mobilized, and helicopters and drones will constantly fly over the Italian capital, while the neighborhood where the summit is being held has been "fortified".

The leaders of the Group of Twenty will take advantage of the opportunity to meet in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic to hold bilateral meetings or in small groups.

Protesters in a demonstration against the G20 summit (Reuters)

meetings and issues

Today, Saturday, US Presidents Joe Biden and French Emmanuel Macron, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will meet to discuss the resumption of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear deal.

A White House official said he expects from this meeting a statement that sends a signal of "unity" from these four countries on this issue, "but also sets a framework for what we believe is the path to follow."

Next, Emmanuel Macron will bring together about 10 heads of state and government of the European Union and the African Union to discuss partnerships between the two continents.

In an atmosphere of tension between Paris and London over fishing rights in the English Channel, the French President will also meet tomorrow morning, Boris Johnson, who said today, Saturday, that he “does not rule out” activating the dispute resolution tool stipulated in the “Brexit” agreements with the European Union for the first time. .

For his part, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez hopes to discuss the issue of his country's debt with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva.