Europe

G20 diplomats to discuss development, crisis prevention

Associated Press
Published | Updated

The logo 'G20 Germany 2017' is lit up outside the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany, Wednesday, Feb 15 2017. The foreign minister of the G20 countries are meeting Feb. 16 and 17, 2017 in Bonn. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

Police officers stand outside the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. The foreign ministers of the G20 countries are meeting on Feb. 16 and 17 in Bonn. (Oliver Berg/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

A police officer stands outside the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. The foreign ministers of the G20 countries are meeting on Feb. 16 and 17 in Bonn. (Oliver Berg/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 leading industrialized and emerging economies are starting two days of talks in the former German capital, with a focus on global development.

Germany, which is hosting the talks in the western city of Bonn, wants to keep up momentum on 17 so-called sustainable development goals the international community agreed to aim for by 2030.

Recognizing and preventing future crises, as well as support for Africa, are also on the agenda.

Diplomats from the G-20 and several guest nations began holding bilateral talks early Thursday, ahead of the meeting's official start mid-afternoon.

It is the first opportunity for recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to meet with key players on the diplomatic circuit, including the foreign ministers of Russia, Britain and Turkey.

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