US President W. Bush set tone for the upcoming Group-20 Summit yesterday
in New York saying that the summit will focus on "understanding the causes of
the global crisis and developing principles for reforming our financial and
regulatory systems."
Bush said the meeting, which is due to this weekend in Washington D.C., will
lay the foundation for financial reforms.
"This crisis did not develop overnight, and it will not be solved overnight,"
the president said in a speech in the Federal Hall, "In addition to addressing
the current crisis, we also need to make broader reforms to strengthen the
global economy over the long term."
One vital principle of reform is to make financial markets more transparent,
he said. "We should consider improving accounting rules for securities, so that
investors around the world can understand the true value of the assets they
purchase."
Bush also urged proper regulation on markets, firms, and financial products
and enhance the integrity financial markets.
"We must strengthen cooperation among the world's financial authorities," he
added, and "move forward with other significant reforms to make the IMF
(International Monetary Fund) and World Bank more transparent, accountable, and
effective."
Moreover, the president attached much attention to the importance of free
market capitalism by saying that "the long-term solution to today's problems is
sustained economic growth. And the surest path to that growth is free markets."
The G-20 Summit is to be convened for the global economic crisis. Leaders
from Group 8, the European Union and major developing countries will be present
at the meeting.