Obama: G20 Brought Economy Back From Brink

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner briefs reporters before the start of the the G-20 summit, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

(AP)

President Barack Obama asserted on Friday that he and other leaders of the world's 20 largest economies took actions that "brought the global economy back from the brink" and saved or created millions of jobs.

"We leave here today confident and united," he said at the conclusion of a two-day summit to deal with the worst economic crisis since the 1930s.

He spoke as world leaders lined up behind sweeping promises designed to fix a malfunctioning global economic system in hopes of heading off future financial meltdowns.

The leaders agreed to leave stimulus programs in place for now until recoveries are more firm. "We must make sure that when growth returns, jobs do, too," he told a wrap-up news conference.

"We brought the global economy back from the brink. We laid the groundwork today for long term prosperity," Obama said.

"It is important to recall the situation we faced" in April when the Group of 20 leaders last met and when talk was rampant about a second Great Depression.

In a statement issued at the conclusion of the summit, the full G-20 leadership echoed Obama's sentiment. "It worked," the statement said of stimulus and other measures taken by the world leaders.

"Pittsburgh was a perfect venue for this work," Obama said of the one-time despairing Rust Belt city. "This community has known its share of hard times. It picked itself up and dusted itself off. It serves as a model for turning the page to a 21st century."

Obama brushed off demonstrations in the city. He said they were mild compared with some in the past at international gatherings.

"I fundamentally disagree with their view that the free market is the source of all ills," he said. "Many of the protests are just directed generically at capitalism. ... One of the great things about the United States is you can speak your mind."

Obama said that tough new financial regulations backed by the G-20 summit would help avoid another economic crisis.