The Group of 20 summit is an informal gathering of 20 leaders from the world’s largest advanced and major emerging economies.

It differs from the Group of 8 meetings which originally began as the Group of 6 major democratic industrial economies of the 1975. Canada was added in 1977 and Russia was added in 1994.

Key documents produced by the G-20 include a “Communiques” which summarize progress and agreements reached during the gathering.

Host nations usually provide the financing and perimeter security for the meetings.