5 Things to Know About the G20 Summit as World Leaders Gather in Rio de Janeiro

World leaders have convened in Brazil for the G20 summit, focusing on economic reform, climate action, and rising global conflicts.

A Brazilian army soldier stands guard in front of the Rocinha slum in Rio de Janeiro as part of security measures for the G20 summit, on Nov. 17, 2024. Tercio Teixeira/AFP via Getty Images

RIO DE JANEIRO—World leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, have gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the annual G20 summit from Nov. 18 to Nov. 19.

The G20, whose members represent nearly two-thirds of the global population and about 85 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, is a group created in 1999 to address international economic issues. The first G20 summit was held in Washington in 2008 in response to the financial crisis. Subsequent meetings were held biannually in 2009 and 2010. They have been held annually since.