BRAZIL has opened a social summit in the run-up to next week’s Group of 20 (G20) meeting of top economies, the first such event focused on drawing civil society input before the main annual summit.

Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said that 40,000 people from G20 countries were expected to attend meetings and panels today in refurbished warehouses in central Rio de Janeiro’s port area and at the nearby Museum of Tomorrow. The main summit takes place in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Vieira told the opening ceremony, also attended by other government ministers and Rosangela da Silva, the wife of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, that the gathering was part of Brazil’s G20 agenda to promote sustainable development and green energy, fight poverty and reduce inequality.

“There couldn’t be a discussion or effective measures on this issue without welcoming society’s contributions,” the foreign minister said.

Proposals developed at the social summit will be summarised in a final document to be presented at the leaders’ summit.

Ms da Silva, known as Janja, said that kicking off the G20 with a socially focused event set Brazil’s presidency apart from prior summits.

“I think we can make it so that, starting from this one, voices are heard and their recommendations are effectively accepted,” Janja said.

Rresentatives of Brazil’s low-income communities have also been gathering separately in Rio de Janeiro as part of an initiative called F20.

Last week, they presented a joint statement outlining their priorities, which include combating inequality, promoting climate justice, improving access to sanitation and advancing digital and financial inclusion.

These neighbourhoods, known as favelas, are home to 16.4 million Brazilians, equating to 8 per cent of the country’s population, according to the government.