Turnbull covers submarine project, terrorism during Macron talks

G20 leaders including Malcolm Turnbull have thrashed out an agreement on free trade, but could not convince Donald Trump to stick with the Paris accord.

(L-R) Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, his wife Lucy, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, his wife Lucy, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. Source: AAP

Malcolm Turnbull has praised G20 leaders for producing a communique recommitting them to free trade.

The final statement from the Hamburg summit exposed a divide between US President Donald Trump and other G20 members on the Paris climate accord, but they all agreed to support open markets.

Mr Turnbull held a joint media conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday after a mid-air meeting between Hamburg and Paris.

"We were able to produce a document that had the endorsement of all of the nations and leaders around the table," he told reporters at the the Elysee Palace in Paris.

"A commitment to the rules based international order, a commitment to free trade and open markets."
President Macron invited the prime minister to fly in his Falcon jet on the 740km journey, when trade, countering terrorism and Australia's submarine project were on the agenda for the meeting which went for about 75 minutes.

It is understood Mr Turnbull is the first foreign leader to fly in the presidential jet.

G20 host German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was pleased all members besides the US had agreed the Paris climate accord was "irreversible".
"I think it's very clear that we could not reach consensus, but the differences were not papered over, they were clearly stated," she said at the end of the two-day meeting in Hamburg.

On trade, another sticking point, the leaders agreed they would "fight protectionism including all unfair trade practices and recognise the role of legitimate trade defence instruments in this regard".

Mr Trump - who took an "America first" approach to the summit - praised Chancellor Merkel for her handling of the meeting, which was one of the most politically charged in recent years.

The prime minister headed into the final day of the Hamburg summit having enjoyed a concert and dinner with other leaders on Friday night, as well as a spontaneous meeting with Donald Trump in the presidential car known as The Beast between functions.

Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump, who had a further discussion on Saturday, said they talked about North Korea's illegal testing of missiles, among other topics.

"President Trump and I get on very well," he told reporters in Germany.
Mr Turnbull's contribution to the summit included securing a strong statement on the rule of law being applied to extremists online, and showing the other leaders the benefits of stored hydro power during the climate talks.

The prime minister in talks with President Xi Jinping urged China to impose sanctions "thoroughly", but noted the Chinese felt their influence over North Korea was "not as great as others assert".

In a meeting with Moon Jae-in he reassured the South Korean president of Australia's commitment to ensuring peace on the peninsula.

He also thanked the president for Korea's commitment to taking Australian liquefied natural gas, which was a "vital part of the transition of economies around the world".

A series of violent protests in Hamburg left 200 police officers injured, 134 temporarily detained and another 100 taken into custody.

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Published 9 July 2017 6:08am
Updated 9 July 2017 11:58am
Source: AAP


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