World leaders gather in China for G20 summit

HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Leaders from various countries throughout the world have gathered in China to discuss global issues at the G20 summit.

The Group of 20 assembly held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, on Sunday and Monday, will feature leaders from the world's leading industrialized and emerging economies.

Prior to the beginning of the summit Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama entered an agreement to formally ratify the Paris Agreement against climate control.

Obama, attending his final G20 summit, is also expected to speak with Xi regarding conflict in the South China sea and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Voice of America.

The BBC reports Theresa May is also expected to meet with Obama in her first G20 as the Prime Minister of the U.K.

Before flying to China May said she would look to usher in a "golden era" of U.K.-China relations and establish the U.K. as a "global leader" in trade.

"The message for the G20 is that Britain is open for business, as a bold, confident, outward-looking country we will be playing a key role on the world stage," she said. "My ambition is that Britain will be a global leader in free trade."

During the summit, Justin Trudeau will make his first visit to China as Canada's Prime Minister and plans to tour Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong to "strive for a closer, more balanced relationship between Canada and China."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expects "a very lively discussion" regarding Ukraine, Syria and refugee issues, The Guardian reports.

While she didn't specify who she will hold these discussions with she has a meeting planned with leaders from Turkey, France and Italy.