Chinese Finance Minister Xie Xuren (2nd R) and Zhou Xiaochuan (R), governor of the People's Bank of China, China's central bank, attend the opening ceremony of the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting at a hotel near Horsham in southern England March 14, 2009.[Xinhua]

The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting sent a positive signal that the international community is rising unitedly to the economic and financial challenges, Chinese Finance Minister Xie Xuren said on Saturday.

As the financial crisis continues to spread and bites harder from one country to another, solidarity achieved at the meeting will help boost market confidence and stabilize economic and financial conditions, Xie told Chinese reporters shortly after the meeting.

Xie said the meeting provided a platform for economic leaders to have in-depth discussions on enhancing exchanges and coordination on policy issues.

He said participants agreed to continue to adopt effective policies and measures and strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policy to restore market confidence as soon as possible.

They also reached consensus on further deepening trade and economic cooperation and fight trade and investment protectionism, Xie said.

Participants unanimously agreed to promote international trade with an open mind and pay close attention to the difficulties of the developing countries, especially the least developed countries, the minister added.

Participants also agreed to strengthen financial supervision, enhance transparency and accelerate the reform of international financial institutions to ensure that the developing countries will have greater representation and bigger say, he said.

Xie said China took an active part in the discussions on all issues at the meeting and extensive exchanges and consultations with various parties on the effective ways to deal with the global financial crisis and promote global economic revival and growth.

China calls on countries around the world to strengthen policy coordination and step up the fight against protectionism to better cope with the crisis, he said.

Xie said the meeting had made some necessary preparation for the upcoming G20 financial summit in London, and created a favorable atmosphere for a successful London summit.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2009)