PITTSBURGH - A two-day summit of leaders of 20 leading global economies opened here amid calls by developing countries such as India to have a key role in restoring normalcy in the global financial system and overcoming the current economic downturn.

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived here Thursday via Frankfurt, has already said India had much to offer in terms of finding a solution to the financial crisis, US President Barack Obama feels America alone cannot resolve all problems and there must be a global consensus.

“Leaders should recognise that developing countries are a key part of the solution,” said World Bank President Robert Zoellick, ahead of the summit that will end late Friday.

“Pittsburgh can be a turning point in other ways. Developing countries are part of the solution,” he said, adding: “If London was a summit for the financial sector, let Pittsburgh be a summit for the poor.”

Some 1,100 delegates and more than 2,000 journalists from across the globe have converged here for the third G20 Summit during which India is expected to commit itself to engagement in ensuring the recovery of the global economy.

“It is necessary for India to engage in the management of the world economy because we have a lot at stake, and a lot to contribute,” Manmohan Singh said as he prepared for the summit.

At the same time he also expected some strong signals from the summit against protectionism, especially by rich nations, whether it concerned trade in goods, services, investment or financial flows.

The most significant remarks, nevertheless, came from the host Obama. “Power is no longer a zero sum game. No nation can or should try to dominate another nation. No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed,” said the US president.

According to participating diplomats, the G20 leaders were also expected to issue a statement at the end of the summit committing themselves to a framework of sustainable and balanced growth.

Their first interaction is scheduled at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, where Obama will host a welcome reception, following which they will meet at the sprawling David Lawrence Convention Centre Friday.

The city, meanwhile was geared to tackle any protest that turns ugly, with the federal government expected to spend some $10 million on security arrangements with another $4 million by the state of Pennsylvania.

The green banners put up in the city read: “Pittsburgh welcomes the world”, even as police was patrolling the areas near the venue on foot, helicopters and even bicycles.

(Arvind Padmanabhan can be contacted at arvind.p@ians.in)