G20 foreign ministers meet to discuss world issues

Foreign ministers of the Group of 20 (G20) gathered in Los Cabos, a posh resort town in north-western Mexico, on Sunday to discuss important world issues. The matters discussed included climate change, global governance, green growth and food and safety.

The G-20 foreign ministers convention was noted for the host country’s assertion on the international community to ponder over crises and conflicts that have gripped the world.

Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said that a candid discussion would be held among G20 foreign ministers at the 2-day convention from Sunday to Monday.

"There are many important issues that affect the lives of billions of people across the world, on which the international community is failing to make any discernible progress," Espinosa said.

Espinosa pressed the member countries to make advancements on issues such as elimination of food shortage and illiteracy, and encouraging green and sustainable growth and development.

“At this stage any results arising from these sessions will be mere recommendations for policy coherence among our countries and we do not intend to develop guidelines or formal documents to negotiate at the G20 Summit,” she added.

The G-20 participants include German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton besides High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton.

The group of foreign ministers are joined by 8 deputy ministers and envoys from powerful G20 countries such as China, India, France and Brazil. Moreover, the convention is reinforced by 8 additional ministers from non-G20 countries.

Hillary Clinton uttered her concerns over the incidents in Syria, the threats posed by Iran and trade barriers.

"Today, many of the most important barriers are emerging not at borders, but behind them," Clinton said. “Measures such as protectionist regulations, subsidies, mandatory technology transfer, and unfair joint venture requirements - all interfere with the G20's core mandate of promoting balanced and sustainable growth," she added.

Even though the G20 has regularly held conventions of central bank governors and finance ministers besides holding leaders' meetings beginning at the peak of the US economic catastrophe in 2008, this is the first time it is holding a meeting of foreign ministers. According to reports, the G20 finance ministers and central bankers are to convene the next weekend in Mexico City, where the European debt crisis would be discussed.