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Catherine Wong

As world leaders gather in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou for the Group of 20 (G20) summit, observers will be taking in not only their grand plans, but also small, critical details.
The furore over China’s “staircase snub” of US President Barack Obama on Saturday as he arrived at the Hangzhou airport is testament to that.
But beyond observations about the red-carpet treatment each leader receives, where the leaders and senior officials stand in the traditional photograph, for example, can also speak volumes about power politics at play.
Watch: Xi welcomes leaders to G20 summit


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During the photo-taking session at this year’s G20 summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood beside China’s Xi Jinping. Turkey was the host of last year’s event in Antalya, while Germany will take over next year.
Standing next to Merkel and Erdogan were US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the Brisbane G20 summit in 2014, Putin stood on the outer edge of the group photograph. That year, the Russian leader cut short his attendance at the summit after Western leaders snubbed him and blasted Moscow for the crisis in Ukraine.
This year, however, China has made clear that Putin is a top guest at the summit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin tops China’s guest list for G20 summit

This year, French President Francois Hollande, South Korea’s Park Geun-hye, Indonesia’s Joko Widodo, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi were also in the front row.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in the second row.
But when Xi and Abe shared a handshake in Hangzhou on Sunday, the Chinese leader was smiling – a sharp contrast from their encounter during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Beijing two years ago, when Xi appeared to be scowling and both avoided eye contact in front of the cameras.


Xi had a brief chat with Obama when they shared a handshake.
The US president had earlier disembarked from his Air Force One plane through a small bare metal stairway – a break in protocol from the usual rolling red-carpet staircase that state leaders get.
Shortly before his arrival, US and Chinese officials had also engaged in a public row on the tarmac over diplomatic arrangements.
Dialogue in the dark and South China Sea disputes: Obama and Xi Jinping’s long chats and night stroll ahead of G20 summit
When Xi greeted the state leaders on Sunday, his exchange with Merkel was longer than that with other leaders, while the moment shared with Park appeared less warm although both Xi and Park remained smiling.
But political influence isn’t the only factor considered when determining where each state leader stands.
According to the unwritten rules of diplomatic protocol, the position also depends on how long the person has served in the post.

What is the most important issue at this year’s #G20 summit? #G20China #poll
— SCMP News (@SCMP_News) September 4, 2016

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This is why Obama, who usually stands in front, was put in the second row at the London summit in 2009, three months after he took office.
Top officials at major international organisations, such as International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, usually stand in the third row.
3, 2, 1: Chinese president puts economy centre stage for G20 with three big questions
Jockeying also takes place over the seating plan at the G20 meetings and banquet.
At the 2009 summit, then British prime minister Gordon Brown reportedly offered then French president Nicholas Sarkozy a seat at the table next to then Chinese president Hu Jintao after Sarkozy threatened to walk out of the summit.
The seating plan for meeting at the Saint Petersburg summit in 2013 was reportedly adjusted to put more distance between Obama and Putin as tensions between the US and Russia ran high over Syria.

Food selection on the menu will also be closely watched as it reflects the “soft powers” of the host country.
British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver made the 2009 banquet one to remember with his signature fresh, relaxed cooking style, serving organic Scottish salmon, shoulder of lamb and Bakewell tart to the G20 leaders.
This year’s host, the lakeside city of Hangzhou, is the proud source of Zhejiang cuisine, one of the eight great culinary traditions of Chinese cuisine.
Well-known Hangzhou dishes, such as West Lake fish in vinegar gravy, Dongpo pork and Beggar’s Chicken, are firm favourites for the menu.
Renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou has been appointed director for this year’s gala night at the summit. An orchestra performance would be performed on the West Lake.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest updates on the G20 summit in Hangzhou as it happens:



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G20: Hangzhou

Little things matter for world leaders at China’s G20 summit ... such as where they stand for photographs

(Front row, from left) Brazil’s President Michel Temer, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, China’s President Xi Jinping, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, Argentinian President Mauricio Macri, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi; (second row) Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Laos' President Bounnhang Vorachith, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Chad's President Idriss Deby, Senegal's President Macky Sall, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Donald Tusk, P

G20 opens in Hangzhou, capital city of eastern China's Zhejiang province on Sep. 04, 2016. Photo by Simon Song

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping (R) before the G20 leaders' family photo in Hangzhou on September 4, 2016. World leaders are gathering in Hangzhou for the 11th G20 Leaders Summit from September 4 to 5. / AFP PHOTO / Greg BAKER

G20 opens in Hangzhou, capital city of eastern China's Zhejiang province on Sep. 04, 2016. Photo by Simon

China's President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, in Beijing November 10, 2014. Xi and Abe held formal talks on Monday for the first time since the two leaders took office, a breakthrough in ending a two-year row between Asia's biggest economies over history and territory. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)

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