Barack Obama told students in Brisbane, Australia – where he is attending the G20 summit – that security in the region must depend on mutual alliances.
He said there was “no question” over his commitment to Asia-Pacific allies, referring to US efforts to increase its strategic focus on the region.
The two-day G20 summit will focus on promoting economic growth.
World leaders are expected to expand on plans agreed in February at the G20 finance ministers’ meeting to boost global economic growth by 2% in five years.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also urged those attending to meet the challenges posed by Ebola, climate change and the conflict in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to face a hostile reception from some Western leaders concerned about Russia’s increasing military assertiveness and tensions over its role in Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said on Saturday that Russia could face further sanctions unless it stopped “destabilising” Ukraine.
Earlier President Obama said Russia’s “aggression” towards Ukraine was a “threat to the world” – citing the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 as proof.
‘Peaceful resolutions’
Mr Obama said security in the Asia-Pacific region depended on international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Who cares about the G20 summit? In 90 seconds
“We believe… that any effective security order for Asia must be based not on spheres of influence, or coercion or intimidation where big nations bully the small, but on alliances for mutual security, international law and norms that are upheld, and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” Mr Obama told students at Brisbane’s University of Queensland.
He did not mention China explicitly but he warned of the dangers posed by territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where Beijing’s actions have raised concern among its neighbours.
He also said that all countries had to increase jobs and prosperity, warning that America could not “carry the global economy on its back”.
‘Any subject’
In his remarks opening the summit, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he wanted to use the event to reassure people about the direction of the world’s economy, with a “message of hope and optimism”.
He earlier said world leaders would use the summit to discuss job creation, identifying tax cheats and strengthening the global economy.
His government had tried to keep climate change off the agenda, despite calls from campaigners.
More than 200 protesters buried their heads in the sands of Bondi Beach on Thursday in a demonstration over climate change inaction.
The Australian government is facing criticism over its climate policies. Since coming to power, Mr Abbott has axed a carbon tax and overseena 70% fall in investment in renewable energy.
In other developments, G20 leaders released a statement in which they vowed to do all they could to “extinguish” the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
It said that members state were committed to do what was necessary “to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak and address its medium-term economic and humanitarian costs”.
The summit is taking place in Brisbane, in the state of Queensland, which is said to be taking unprecedented security measures, with some 6,000 police deployed.
Twenty-seven different groups have been given permits to protest at designated areas near the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the venue hosting the meeting, and thousands of people are expected over the weekend.
What is G20?
- The “Group of Twenty” represents two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP and over 75% of global trade.
- It began in 1999 as an annual meeting for finance ministers and central bank governors following the Asian financial crisis, before evolving to also include a summit for countries’ leaders in 2008, after the global financial crisis.
- G20 meetings are aimed at deepening economic co-operation and strengthening the global economy.
- It comprises 19 countries and the European Union.
- At each meeting, the host country invites non-member guest countries to attend. For 2014, Australia has invited Spain, Mauritania, Myanmar, Senegal, New Zealand and Singapore.
Source: G20 website
