Following a G20 Studies Centre roundtable at the Lowy Institute, select guests discussed why Australia's hosting of the G20 in 2014 is important and how the agenda could be shaped to best serve the long term future of the G20.

Australia is a new and significant destination for Chinese investment. In this presentation by the inaugural Lowy Institute-Rio Tinto China Fellow, Professor Zha Daojiong speaks about the drivers of direct investment from China into Australia and perceptions among Chinese entities of the investment environment in Australia.

Lowy Institute fellows Anthony Bubalo, Linda Jakobson and Mark Thirlwell discussed the year ahead in the Middle East and China, as well as the 2013 outlook for the global economy. Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove moderated the panel. Image: Flickr/EricFischer
(Please note that the due to technical failures the audio levels in this recording are very low.  Our apologies in advance. We are currently replacing our A/V equipment)

In this short video, Mike Callaghan, the Director of the G20 Studies Centre, talks about his new paper, Relaunching the G20. In this conversation, he argues that the G20 must remain the premier forum for international economic cooperation, but that it requires reform to be effective. It should learn from its history: drawing lessons from the successes and shortcomings of previous summits. For Australia - which will chair the G20 in 2014 - Mike’s proposals are especially timely and important.

In this short video, Linda Jakobson outlines the conclusions of her new Analysis paper, ‘China’s foreign policy dilemma’. She observes that foreign policy is hardly a pressing concern for China’s new leaders. Domestic challenges, particularly the imperative of robust economic growth, will be the foremost concern of President Xi Jinping.