The G20 meeting in Brazil's business capital also exposed opposing views on how to regulate financial markets and the role institutions like the International Monetary Fund should play in overseeing a new global economic order.

France, which holds the rotating European Union presidency, is leading a drive for tough new regulations and oversight in financial markets. Many countries want to beef up the IMF and some want to give it a regulatory surveillance role.

"I think everybody has in mind that we really need the world leadership to take action," he said.

In a rare show of unity, the so-called BRIC club of fast-growing emerging economies -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- issued a joint statement on Friday calling for a heftier role in shaping the new global financial architecture.

Brazil also called for the G20 to replace the rich-nation G7 as the main forum to decide on global economic affairs, a cause that was backed by many developing countries and the IMF's Strauss-Kahn.