Practical approach to prevail at G20

Discussions over the international financial system and governance reforms will be less idealistic as the eurozone debt crisis continues and global leaders seek to secure economic growth, said analysts.

"These topics will probably be addressed in a more practical way in the upcoming G20 summit, as resolving the eurozone debt crisis and maintaining economic growth is the priority," said Chen Xingdong, managing director and chief economist at BNP Paribas Securities (Asia).

"It doesn't mean the implementation of agreed-upon reform measures will be postponed. But countries will be more rational in their approach."

The G20 summit will be held on Monday and Tuesday in Los Cabos, Mexico.

China highlighted its expectations that the summit will facilitate the formation of a fair, inclusive and orderly international financial system and deepen international financial governance reform, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai.

Cui said that the summit is also expected to address improvements to the international monetary system.

"All member states should implement the International Monetary Fund quota and governance reform plan that was agreed upon last year and increase the representation and voice of the emerging economies," Cui said.

Chen Dongxiao, vice-president of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said China is playing a greater role in promoting international financial reform given the current circumstances.

"It is an election year in the US and many European countries. As policy uncertainty rises, political willingness in those economies to promote IMF and monetary system reforms is getting weaker. In contrast, China is playing a positive role on such issues, including giving emerging economies more say on global affairs."

In recent years, the G20 has been working to solve some structural, long-term problems, such as reforming the IMF quota, regulating financial institutions and developing a global economic system that is more tolerant and inclusive.

The reform of the international financial system should still be the priority, since IMF reform, which was proposed in 2009, has not yet been fully implemented, said Chen.

Zhu Jun, deputy head of the People's Bank of China's international department, said earlier that China will "not be absent" from plans to add $430 billion in funds to the IMF.

But any capital input should be primarily based on a country's voting power in the institution, Zhu said.

Li Ruogu, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of China, said the G20 must come up with specific programs to improve the current dollar-centric international monetary system.

"If we just say what should be changed but never come up with specific plans, it won't work. The G20 must create a working group to put forward specific proposals to leaders," Li said, adding that broadening the Special Drawing Rights might be a feasible method.

The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969, to support the expansion of international trade. It is a unit of account derived from the values of the dollar, yen, pound and euro.

Economists and officials have urged the IMF to include the currencies of emerging economies, such as the yuan, into the SDR basket.

Financial markets will be looking to the summit for globally coordinated actions targeted to revive economic growth prospects worldwide on a sustainable basis, said the Institute of International Finance in a letter to G20 leaders on Thursday.

Adding to current economic uncertainties are "regulatory changes and the potential for layering on of additional requirements that continue to further restrict credit provision to the real economy", said Charles Dallara, managing director of the institute.

"This is an opportune moment to reflect whether there should be a pause in adding further to the aggregate of regulatory reform already in place and in train."

Contact the writer at wangxiaotian@chinadaily.com.cn