Eleanor Service |
The 4th-5th of September saw this year’s annual G20 summit unfold in Hangzhou, China, and it concluded with a bang. An amazing display of lights and performers was laid on for all attending.
The final meeting of the G20 attendees confirmed the necessary consensus for G20’s long-term goals, and will allows leaders to be held accountable for a plan for innovative growth. Yet the summit still lacked substance.
As the Chinese PM Xi Jingping closed the event state-run media outlet People’s Daily Online tweeted:
“#G20Live The11th #G20 summit has just concluded with great success: #XiJinping”
But this is China, what else was it going to say?
There is even a theory that China saw the summit as a success, well before it actually occurred.
Right from the off, China playing host to the event, was a symbol of a new era in the nation’s global economic confidence and leadership. It opened the door to a chance to endorse the new Beijing economic model, which includes the “One Belt, One Road” initiative and Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank on a global level.
China exploited its developing nation status as much as possible, bringing the ideas of development and inclusivity to the very forefront of proceedings. Official consultations were offered well beyond the G20 member circle, and never before have so many people been invited from developing world nations. This has earned China the title of most inclusive host.
This title was overshadowed though, by China’s proposal for a G20 action plan for applying the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development. US-Chinese joint endorsement of the Paris agreement on climate change, right before the summit, encouraged a poignant headline and gave hope for a new model for G20 shared leadership.
From where China’s standing, each of these is a show of success. For their own viewers, these successes were emphasised by the intense state media coverage of the main summit events. The PM’s key note speeches were made the focal point, while the high-tech closing performance made for a more exciting experience. Naturally, views opposing China were pushed out of the limelight.
Amongst all this, the actual communiqués between leaders seem like more of a side event.
This partly highlighted a lack of information and communication. Media centre’s boasted blank screens, and press briefings gave little away. Added to the patchy social media and internet connections, room for analysis and commentary was incredibly limited.
The complete lack of any G20 information of substance, including but not limited to, the details of the final G20 meeting – released only after Jingjing’s final press release – was overwhelming.
Many are viewing this entire event as a hush up by the Chinese government, and are looking for information of substance to finally be released. The horizon looks bleak for these hopefuls though, as the Chinese State run media is sticking to its current coverage of the event, which makes the Chinese look suspiciously good.
The Chinese media has even come out saying the ‘snub’ of President Obama, has been ‘hyped up’ by western media. The incident in question, involved President Obama’s Air Force One not being met by a staircase. There were even some angry remarks exchanged between a White House Staffer and Chinese and American Officials.
Is the media really being censored though, or is there simply nothing to tell? It has been said for many years, that ever since the global financial crises of 2008-9, the G20 is becoming increasingly pointless. This muddies the water a little, as to whether there is actually anything to cover up. Only time will tell though, and for now all we can do is wait.
