At his plenary speech on the first day of the 2019 G20 Summit, in Osaka, Japan, which began on Friday, Argentine President Mauricio Macri thanked his fellow G20 leaders for their “vote of confidence” in Argentina.

“Widespread support from the international community has been crucial as we continue to consolidate our path of development and global integration, once and for all,” he said, confirming that Argentina wants to continue to play its role in contributing to global growth, and fair and sustainable development.

“We can only achieve this by working together, through greater interconnection of our economies to promote employment, quality education, innovation and the insertion of SMEs into global value chains,” he said.

Macri stressed that to “be in the best position to face today’s challenges, especially inclusive growth,” countries must join and work together.

As G20 president in 2018, Macri recalled last year’s summit: “The Buenos Aires consensus was built thanks to each of your efforts. It was possible because a spirit of cooperation prevailed, something that we must preserve and strengthen.”

On Argentina, Macri talked of the signs of improvement in the economy and of the benefits of structural reforms starting to bear fruit. “This year we are on track to reach a fiscal balance, with a deficit reduction of five points of GDP in four years. Exports will grow at double digits for the first time since 2011,” he added.

Regarding Venezuela, President Macri talked of the “hunger, violence and lack of opportunities” which Venezuelans face today. “Our region faces a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented magnitude,” he said.

“We will continue to support the Venezuelan effort for a full return of democracy,” he concluded.

At yesterday’s plenary session, President Macri was seated at the head of the plenary table, together with Japanese President, Shinzo Abe, and Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. Argentina is part of the leadership group known as the G20 troika, tasked with ensuring continuity in the group’s thematic agenda. The troika is made up of the current (Japan), previous (Argentina) and upcoming (Saudi Arabia) G20 presidents.

Earlier on, President Macri took advantage of the opening day of the summit to converse with a number of heads of state and government, including United States President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron on the state of the global economy and the latest signs of recovery in Argentina’s economy.

President Macri also confirmed his commitment to the Paris Agreement during a joint meeting with President Sebastián Piñera of Chile, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain and Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.

Macri also talked with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada; Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia; and Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom, and received and invitation to visit the Republic of Korea in March 2020 by President Moon Jae-in.

Before the first plenary session, President Macri met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the Osaka International Convention Center (Intex), the Summit’s venue. They analyzed progress on Argentina’s monetary policy, the declining trend in inflation, the latest fiscal results, which will allow the country to achieve a primary fiscal balance for the first time in eight years, and the good performance of foreign trade. Both agreed that they have begun to perceive a recovery of the Argentine economy.

In the evening, President Macri and First Lady Juliana Awada attended an official dinner offered by Prime Minister Abe and his wife, Akie Abe, at the Nishinomaru castle in Osaka.

Today, Macri will take part in the final two plenary sessions and the summit’s official closing ceremony. He is also scheduled to meet with the leaders of Brazil, Canada and Chile, and attend a G20 event on women’s empowerment.