G20 Leaders to Meet in London

Click here to find an official schedule and more information on the London meeting. Following is a look at the group’s membership:

Argentina
Attending: President Cristina Fenandez de Kirchner
Argentina’s gross domestic product per capita is $14,500. It suffered from recurring economic crises during much of the 20th century. At the summit, Kirchner is seeking British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s support for receiving loans from international organizations aimed at boosting economies of developing nations, reported the AFP.

Australia
Attending: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Australia has a GDP per capita of $39,300. The country is considered to have a strong economy with a per capita GDP on par with dominant West European economies.

Brazil
Attending: President Luiz Innacio Lula da Silva
Brazil has a GDP per capita of $10,300. Brazil’s economy largely outweighs that of all other South American countries and the country is seeking to expand its presence in world markets.

Canada
Attending: Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Canada has a GDP per capita of $40,200. Canada is one of the U.S.’s largest foreign suppliers of energy, including oil, gas, uranium and electric power.

China
Attending: President Hu Jintao
China has a GDP per capita of $6,100. Facing its own economic slowdown, China announced a stimulus package of $586 billion in November of 2008. In the run-up to the summit, China’s central bank governor, Zhou XiaochuanZhou, called on foreign governments to give their finance ministers broad authority to “act boldly and expeditiously.” China has even suggested the creation of a global currency to replace the dollar.

France
Attending: President Nicolas Sarkozy
France has GDP per capita of $32,700. It is the most-visited country in the world and maintains the third-largest income in the world from tourism. Sarkozy has said world leaders cannot afford to let the week pass without making substantial progress in fixing the global financial system.

Germany
Attending: Chancellor Angela Merkel
Germany has a GDP per capita of $34,800 and has struggled with chronically high unemployment. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Merkel said she won’t give in to U.S. pressure to increase economic stimulus spending.

India
Attending: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
India has a GDP per capita of $2,900. Its economy encompasses traditional farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of industries and services. India has said it plans to oppose protectionism at the G20, from countries seeking to shield their own economies from the financial crisis.

Indonesia
Attending: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Indonesia has a GDP per capita of $3,900. Its stock market was been one of the three best performers in the world in 2006 and 2007, but in 2008 the global financial crisis brought on a rout in the stock market.

Italy
Attending: President Silvio Berlusconi
Italy has a GDP per capita of $31,000. In 2007, the country’s official public debt exceeded 100 percent of its GDP and the deficit – 1.5 percent of GDP in 2007 – could approach 3 percent in 2009.

Japan
Attending: Prime Minister Taro Aso
Japan has a GDP per capita of $35,300. Its large government debt, and its aging population are considered two serious long-term issues for its economy. Unemployment in Japan is now at a three year high, prompting Aso to draw up his third stimulus package in six months, which he is expected to unveil at the G20 summit, reported the Guardian.

Mexico
Attending: President Felipe Calderon
Mexico has a GDP per capita of $14,400. Mexico is partner to 12 free trade agreements with more than 40 countries.

Russia
Attending: President Dmitry Medvedev
Russia has a GDP per capita of $15,800. During former President Vladimir Putin’s first administration, a number of important reforms were implemented in the areas of tax, banking, labor and land codes. Medvedev has said Russia’s stance for the G20 summit lines up with Germany, with a high priority on overhauling the global financial system.

Saudi Arabia
Attending: King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Saudi Arabia has a GDP per capita of $21,300. The country has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities.

South Africa
Attending: President Kgalema Motlanthe
South Africa has a GDP per capita of $10,400. It is considered to be an emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources.

South Korea
Attending: President Lee Myung-bak
South Korea has a GDP per capita of $26,000. In the face of rising oil prices, inflation and unemployment have increased in the country in recent years.

Turkey
Attending: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkey has a GDP per capita of $ 12,900. Its economy is a complex mix of modern industry along with a traditional agriculture sector.

United Kingdom
Attending: Prime Minister Gordon Brown
The United Kingdom has a GDP per capita of $37,400. The country is a leading trading power and financial center of Western Europe. Brown is considered to have allied himself with President Barack Obama for the summit, pledging joint efforts to stimulate international economic recovery.

United States
Attending: President Barack Obama
The United States has a GDP per capita of $48,000. In January 2009 the United States approved a $787 billion fiscal stimulus to create jobs. The United States has made it clear it wants to see a European stimulus package.

In addition to these heads of state, the leaders of other countries and international organizations are also invited to take part in the G20 summit. Among them:

Spain
Attending: President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

Netherlands
Attending: Prime Minister Jan Peter Bakenende

European Commission
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said the EU will push an ambitious agenda at the G20, including a massive increase in International Monetary Fund resources, and financial reforms. Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, last week described the United States’ economic stimulus plans as “a way to hell.”

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