Los Cabos: Committing to fight economic slowdown and combat corruption, the G-20 leaders have expressed confidence that USD 450 billion firepower of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would help in safeguarding financial stability and preventing global crisis.
Pointing out that global economy continues to vulnerable, the declaration issued at the end of the two-day G-20 summit here said, "this effort (to provide USD 450 billion to the IMF) shows the G-20 and the international community's commitment to take the steps needed to safeguard global financial stability and enhance the IMF's role in crisis prevention and resolution."
It called for collective action to deal with financial market tensions and promote trade, growth and jobs.
"Clearly, the global economy remains vulnerable, with a negative impact on the everyday lives of people all over the world, affecting jobs, trade, development, and the environment... We will act together to strengthen recovery and address financial market tensions," said the declaration.
Among other G-20 leaders, the Summit was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who said that "my overall assessment of the meeting is that there was general agreement that policy in all countries must shift to strengthening growth... There was also general agreement that the most urgent problem we must tackle is to reduce uncertainty about the Eurozone."
India has committed USD 10 billion as part of the USD 75 billion pledged by the five-nation BRICS bloc to the strengthen IMF's firepower to deal with the global crisis.
On the issue of corruption, which is being raised by India at different global fora, the declaration called upon the members nations and other stakeholders to play an active role in combating the menace and deny safe havens to proceeds of such activities.
"We renew our commitment to deny safe haven to the proceeds of corruption and to the recovery and restitution of stolen assets," the declaration said.
Corruption, it added, "impedes economic growth, threatens the integrity of markets, undermines fair competition, distorts resource allocation, destroys public trust and undermines the rule of law. We call on all relevant stakeholders to play an active role in fighting corruption."
Referring to trade issues, the G-20 leaders expressed "deep concern" about rising instances of protectionism and expressed their commitment for "open trade and investment, expanding markets and resisting protectionism in all its forms, which are necessary conditions for sustained global economic recovery, jobs and development.
"We underline the importance of an open, predictable, rules-based, transparent multilateral trading system and are committed to ensure the centrality of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Recognizing the importance of investment for boosting economic growth, we commit to maintaining a supportive business environment for investors," the declaration said.
