Reuters reports that Southeast Asian leaders are set to avoid references to a recent arbitration ruling that undermined China's claims to the South China Sea, after omitting it from a joint statement at a summit this week over which Beijing's influence looms large. A draft communique of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) seen by Reuters on Monday listed eight points related to the South China Sea, but made no mention of a high-profile July ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which invalidated Beijing's territorial claims. The decision to exclude reference to the ruling represents a diplomatic victory for China, following ASEAN's decision at its last meeting in July to turn down a U.S.-backed proposal to include the landmark ruling in the text.

Wall Street Journal reports that China rallied the Group of 20 around a call to use new levers to revive global growth, though the group's nine-page statement was short on concrete steps and there were few signs that Beijing would lead by example. Chinese President Xi Jinping said leaders would put in place guidelines on global investment and explore structural overhauls, acknowledging the need for measures beyond low interest rates to prop up the global economy amid growing resentment of globalization's effects. Leaders from U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Theresa May to Mr. Xi highlighted in news conferences and meetings the need to improve the lives of ordinary citizens to garner support for increasingly unpopular trade agreements. Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, the International Monetary Fund'sChristine Lagarde said, "There must be more growth and growth must be more inclusive."