Brown and Obama Reject Summit Concerns

Brown and Obama rejected concerns that the Summit may not reach an agreement or lead to any concrete action. The Prime Minister said: "The world does want to come together. Britain and America working together can help reach consensus - not just something that is reached on paper but something that can help people everywhere."

The President said: "All of us here in London have a responsibility to act with a sense of urgency and I think what Gordon spoke about - the human dimension of this crisis… that’s what our agenda has to begin with and that’s where it will end."

Mr Brown and President Obama also emphasised the importance of the 'special relationship' between the UK and the US, and their own personal friendship. Earlier in the morning, the two leaders had met at Downing Street to discuss the G20. Their ambitions to create a low-carbon economic recovery, and UK and US involvement in Afghanistan were also on the agenda.

G20 leaders and their wives also attended a reception hosted by Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace on the evening of Wednesday 1 April. The only glamorous figure missing from the G20 'First Wives Club' is Carla (Bruni) Sarkozy, married to French President Nicholas Sarkozy. A former model, Carla has chosen to remain in Paris in preparation for the Nato summit in Strasbourg.