The G20 summit in Hangzhou was intricately planned and executed with daunting efficiency.
The G20 summit in Hangzhou was intricately planned and executed with daunting efficiency. But even the Chinese government, with its legion of officials, could not avoid the subversive act of a fish, which some British newspapers are jokingly referring to as “fishgate”.
While the world’s most important leaders were taking a relaxing boat ride on a lake in China, an unknown fish made a death-leap from the deep, straight into one of the two boats carrying the world’s most important leaders.
According to the Independent, British Prime Minister Theresa May was chatting happily with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when a fish popped over, causing a furore. Even as Prime Ministers and Presidents scrambled away to avoid getting their evening-wear covered in lake water, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi stepped forward. Not surprising, given his nickname — “Il Rottamatore”, meaning “the scrapper”. The Independent said that Mr Renzi tried to usher the fish back into the lake with his foot.
But Mr Renzi’s valiant act did not turn out the way he would most likely have wanted as he ended up taking a tumble on the deck himself, causing a bit of excitement.
Though the boat tour was supposed to give the world leaders “a chance to kick back, enjoy a meal, a drink and each other’s company”, according to the Independent the sudden excitement was most welcome as over dinner the world leaders were subjected to a symphony orchestra programme consisting of a piece of music from every country in the G20.
There was also a performance consisting of a series of light and dance shows on different themes. It began with a set inspired by a poem written 1,300 years ago during the Tang dynasty, followed by a local ditty from Hangzhou and then interludes from Swan Lake, Clair de Lune and some Beethoven.
The meal consisted of pine mushroom soup, stir fried shrimps with longjing tea leaves and orange-flavoured crab meat washed down with Chinese wine.
