Finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 countries started meeting on Saturday to discuss measures to deal with the economic crisis and reform the global financial system.

The meeting was hosted by British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, who said participants have discussed on Friday the situation facing all the countries across the world, saying he was sure Saturday's meeting would make progress.

The G20 London Summit will focus on issues including tackling the economy and getting banks to resume lending.

The finance officials will also discuss coordinated macro economic policies, the Washington Action Plan, principles for financial regulation and supervision, the role of international financial institutions such as International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and multilateral development banks.

Altogether 21 finance ministers and 18 central bank governors from advanced economies such as the US, Japan, Britain, Germany and France, as well as emerging economies including China, India and South Africa attended the meeting.

Participants also included IMF president Dominique Strauss-Kahn, World Bank chief Robert Zoellick, and Joaquin Almunia, European Commissioner in charge of economic and monetary Affairs.

A communique is expected to be issued after the meeting, while Alistair Darling, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and other finance ministers will hold press conference respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2009)