Barack Obama expressed hope that the summit would help to develop a unified plan to tackle the credit crunch and economic downturn.
World leaders are gathering in London to discuss the financial crisis, in a round of G20 talks beginning today.
In a joint press conference in Downing Street today, US president Barack Obama and prime minister Gordon Brown said this morning that a unified response from member states to the credit crunch and economic downturn was crucial for success. However, comments from heads of other nation states today suggest that agreement might be hard to find at the talks.
Mr Obama said: "We can only meet this challenge together… All of us in London have a responsibility to act with a sense of urgency." Mr Brown added: "We must stand united in our determination to do whatever is necessary."
Hints came today that a fractious atmosphere may prevail at the summit, with fundamental disagreements between member states over how best to tackle the financial crisis. Splits have emerged between those who believe that recovery can be promoted through expensive "fiscal stimulus" programmes - and those who believe that such schemes are too risky in that they will increase public debts by too great a margin.
The US, Japan and the UK are thought to be in the former group, with France and Germany in the latter.
Speaking to Europe 1 radio, French president Nicolas Sarkozy signalled his dissatisfaction with a draft communique distributed to leaders ahead of the summit. "The conversation is going forward, there are projects on the table," he said. "As things stand at the moment, these projects do not suit France or Germany."
Japanese premier Taro Aso also stridently endorsed fiscal stimulus projects - and specifically criticised Germany for being reluctant to spend.
