Good morning, everyone. I'm delighted to welcome you here to Asheville in western North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, for the U.S. G20 Finance Ministerial. We chose Asheville because we want to showcase the beauty of the place, but also the resilience of its people. Only two years ago, Hurricane Helene brought communities in this region to the brink of ruin. Families were forced from their homes, rivers overran their roads, and businesses that had stood for generations were suddenly washed away. But the people of North Carolina went to work, and today, Greater Asheville reminds us what renewal looks like. It's a comeback city. A region tested by disaster responded with its resilience that has long defined the American experience.
For 250 years, that spirit has sustained the most vibrant economy in the history of the world. And now, under President Trump, we are entering a new season of national strength. Growth is again the North Star of our policies at home and of our leadership on the world stage. And in bringing that emphasis to the G20, we are restoring the purpose for which it was founded. When the G20 first convened in the late '90s, its mandate was clear: to promote cooperation in pursuit of economic growth. But over the decades, mission creep has knocked this forum off course. This year, under President Trump, we're getting back to the basics.
The United States has carried the G20's founding purpose into five priorities, and I want to thank you all for the progress we've made together across each of them. Our first and most fundamental priority is economic growth, which rests upon the abundance of our resources, the clarity of our rules, and the strength of our markets. When these conditions are in place, enterprise can do what government cannot, which is call forth the energies of free people to build for themselves and their communities. That is why, for the first time, the United States is bringing private sector business leaders and G20 policymakers together to identify the barriers to growth and develop reforms to remove them. Second, this public-private partnership is also informing our work to modernize financial regulation and supervision. Smart rules preserve confidence without smothering initiative. So the G20 is exploring ways to streamline and reform regulatory approaches to reduce unnecessary burdens, protect market integrity, and supply businesses with the certainty they need to invest and innovate.
Third, we are confronting persistent global imbalances that undermine prosperity. G20 finance ministers and central bank governors have broadly concurred that it is in the interest of both surplus and deficit countries to address excessive imbalances. And we have seen how distorted policies that privileged countries' own exports have harmed many of the economies represented here today. A durable global economy cannot rest on beggar-thy-neighbor acts that stifle fair market-based competition. So we are steering the IMF and other international organizations to strengthen their analysis and engagement on this issue, and we thank them for that. Fourth, we will focus on addressing sovereign debt challenges, especially among emerging markets and developing economies. Our work aims to make sovereign debt restructurings faster, more transparent, and more predictable.
Finally, I've long believed that the strength of a nation lies as much in the wealth it creates as the opportunity it extends. Financial literacy is a foundational skill akin to reading and writing. So here in the United States, we have launched Trump Accounts so that the next generation can take a stake in the American Dream from day one and gain financial literacy along the way. Working families left on the sidelines for too long will finally understand what a piece of the action feels like. And that experience will be reinforced by over a dozen learning modules we've developed to promote financial literacy in a way no book, test, or school curriculum possibly could. As we embark on one of the greatest real-time learning experiences in the history of the United States, I look forward to exchanging perspectives on how more of our citizens can make informed financial decisions, build greater wealth, and protect themselves from fraud.
So, as you can see, we have much to consider and much to accomplish over the coming days. The measure of this ministerial will ultimately be the progress we make beyond it. And I trust that we can use this opportunity to work toward our shared goal of stronger growth and economic prosperity for all. And before I turn the microphone over to Federal Reserve Chairman Warsh, I want to thank the EU and the ECB for their strong statement of support for our economic operations against the Iranian regime, and together, this group will end this 47-year horrendous reign that they have had. So, I want to welcome Chairman Warsh, who is joining the G20 finance track for the first time in his new role. Kevin, it's great to have you here, and I know the other participants will be interested in your perspective. I will turn the floor over to you.
