From the very beginning of the G20, Mexico has promoted the enhancement of its role as a representative, inclusive and effective forum for taking and implementing economic and financial decisions in a world where the international economy is increasingly interdependent and multipolar. As John Kirton has suggested, the G20 is “the culmination of an expansion of the center of global governance to include ascending powers alongside advanced ones, and to give each equal, institutionalized involvement and influence in the central club.”

The G8 has gradually become more and more limited in its ability to deal with the global financial and economic challenges that require the participation of the emerging and developing countries. Given the increasing globalization and the emergence of new economic poles, the participation of emerging countries such as Brazil, China, India and Mexico has become vital in the search of solutions to the complex problems that have arisen. Although the G8 tried to broaden its contacts with other countries, mainly through the “expanded dialogue” with emerging countries,2 international organizations, business leaders and civil society organizations, this approach would be eclipsed by the imminent appearance of the G20 leaders’ summits.