World leaders have sat down for the opening session of their annual G20 summit, with any number of disputes and disagreements on the table.
A 'family photo' of the participants at the G20 Summit Conference Centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: AFP
Host president, Argentina's Mauricio Macri, said the solution was "dialogue, dialogue and dialogue" and called for a clear message of shared responsibility.
But US President Donald Trump has already cancelled meeting Russia's Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
And huge differences loom on climate change, trade and the Khashoggi affair.
The G20, made up of 19 of the world's most industrialised nations plus the EU, accounts for 85 percent of the world's economic output and two-thirds of the world's population.
Such meetings are an opportunity for members to develop global policies tackling major issues - but many of the key decisions will be made in one-on-one encounters.
There is massive security for the summit in Buenos Aires, with a bank holiday declared for Friday and the city's main business district shut down.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AFP
What have the opening exchanges told us?
The world leaders were all called on to the stage and assumed their position for the traditional family photograph.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stood on the outside of the photo, far away from Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
This is the crown prince's first major diplomatic test since the murder in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a key critic of the government. Saudi Arabia has blamed "rogue agents" but suspicion has fallen on the prince for ordering the killing.
After the photo was taken, the crown prince did manage a hearty exchange with Mr Putin.
High five between Russia's President Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the G20https://t.co/q0Z9qmye51 pic.twitter.com/uVC4pfggwu
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 30, 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron held a five-minute exchange with the crown prince during which, a French official said, Mr Macron had conveyed "very firm" messages over the Khashoggi affair.
Mr Trump had a "friendly meeting" with the crown prince, Saudi media said, while UK PM Theresa May has also said she will meet him.
Mr Macron's opening address admitted there would be issues of disagreement that needed to be managed.
He called for consensus on sustainable development, the future of work, food supply, climate change and international trade, adding: "I am an optimist."
After the address, the leaders stayed for the afternoon plenary session.
US President Donald Trump with UK Prime Minister Theresa May during a session titled Fair and Sustainable Future. Photo: AFP
What will go on on the sidelines?
There are certain to be plenty of bilateral, trilateral or even larger get-togethers, although the one that will not be taking place is the highest-profile.
Mr Trump said he would not meet Mr Putin because three Ukrainian vessels and 24 sailors seized by Russia in the Black Sea near Crimea had not been returned.
"We don't like what happened. Nobody does," he said on Friday.
Mr Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow regretted the decision. But he said: "If this is so, the president will have a couple of extra hours in the programme for useful meetings on the sidelines of the summit."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has blamed the crisis "entirely" on Russia and said she would raise the issue with Mr Putin.
The second-highest profile meeting will also involve Mr Trump. He will have dinner on Saturday with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
The key issue there will be the nations' trade tariffs dispute.
The US has hit a total of $US250bn of Chinese goods with tariffs since July, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $US110bn of US products.
China said it remained hopeful of a deal and, after earlier indicating pessimism, Mr Trump said on Friday: "They want to and we'd like to. There are some good signs. We'll see what happens."
Mr Putin has also weighed in, with a thinly veiled attack on Mr Trump's America First policy. The Russian president condemned "dishonest competition" along with "vicious" sanctions and protectionist measures.
What has been achieved so far?
Ahead of the summit's official start Mr Trump signed a trade deal with the Mexican and Canadian leaders.
Mr Trump described the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) - which replaces the Nafta free trade deal - as "probably the greatest trade deal ever".
"All of our countries will benefit greatly," he said.
Will there be a joint G20 communiqué?
If there is one when the summit winds up on Saturday it may have to hurdle the obstacle of climate change.
Mr Trump has not hidden his objection to collective action on the issue.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said in Buenos Aires that "this is a make-it-or-break-it moment" on the issue.
French President Emmanuel Macron was quoted by AFP news agency as saying he would refuse to sign a trade deal with South America's Mercosur bloc if Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro withdrew from the Paris climate accord.
- BBC
