World leaders, politicians and advisors from across the globe will begin descending on Buenos Aires this week for activities related to the G20 Leaders Summit, which begins next Fridays.
Key bilateral talks carrying wide-ranging geopolitical implications are expected to take place on the sidelines of the event.
For his part, Argentine President Mauricio Macri is scheduled to hold a number of key meetings, including bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Here's a brief look at the confirmed schedule so far.
DAY 1 (Friday, November 30, 2018)
The G20 Leaders Summit officially begins next Friday, with heads of states and their delegations arriving from their respective hotels and embassies to the G20 site situated at Buenos Aires City’s Costa Salguero district.
A "leaders retreat" will take place from 10.30am to 12pm, to be attended only by leaders from the Group of 20 nations present. Representatives from other "invited" countries, international organisations and committee members will be excluded from attending.
"Mauricio Macri will moderate [as host president]. It will be a dynamic meeting which will have the direct participation of leaders," a source close to the G20's organisation team told state-run news agency Télam.
The discussion will focus on the 2018 G20's key working points.
At midday, when that conclave has concluded, a "family photo" will be taken as part of the official welcome to Argentina. Soon after, at 12.30pm, President Macri will deliver opening remarks.
The first working session of the summit is scheduled to begin at 1pm, running until 14.30pm. It will include a "working lunch.” A coffee break is then scheduled from 2.30pm to 3.15pm, where leaders will be encouraged to engage in bilateral talks, both scheduled and unscheduled.
A second session will run from 3.15pm to 4.45pm before a recess lasting until 6.30pm. The summit will then move to the Colón Theatre for a unique "performance" that will reportedly highlight Argentina's "cultural diversity."
A Gala Dinner is scheduled to run from 8.15pm to 10pm. The event will end the first day of the summit.
DAY 2 (Saturday, December 1, 2018)
The second day of the summit kicks off at 10am at Costa Salguero, with a second debate session, followed by a coffee break from 11.30am to 12.15pm.
The third session runs until 2.15pm, again including a "working lunch."
President Macri will then deliver closing remarks and – provided it has been agreed upon – present the G20's final communiqué, followed by remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking as the representative of the next G20 host. Japan will host the 2019 G20 Presidency, with next year's Leaders Summit due to take place in Osaka.
At 2.45pm, Macri will host a press conference, opening up the microphone to other delegations’ spokespeople.
The president will then attend an event marking 120 years of bilateral relations with Japan at the Centro Cultural Kirchner, hosted by Prime Minister Abe.
-TIMES/TÉLAM
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