China's President Xi Jinping has urged leaders of the world's 20 largest economies to avoid "empty talk" as they look to quicken economic growth.
World leaders are at the annual G20 economic summit, which is being hosted in China for the first time.
President Xi said the global economy was at a "crucial juncture" due to volatile markets and feeble trade.
Also discussed on the first day of the G20 were the global steel crisis, trade barriers and the UK's Brexit talks.
President Xi said: "Against risks and challenges facing the world economy, the international community has high expectations of the G20 in the Hangzhou summit."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the G20 leaders had agreed they need to work together to increase economic growth.
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However, it is unlikely a major deal will be struck, particularly as the most productive discussions are taking place one-on-one, said BBC Asia Pacific editor Celia Hatton.
President Xi urged his counterparts to avoid empty talk in their attempts to boost trade, but his "critics might raise an eyebrow at this: China is often accused of putting up trade barriers, not tearing them down," she added.