RIO DE JANEIRO (Kyodo) -- The leaders of the Group of 20 economies began a two-day meeting on Monday in Brazil to address global challenges, including geopolitical risks and climate change, ahead of Donald Trump's return as U.S. president.

The unity of the group is to be tested, as U.S. President-elect Trump's comeback to the White House in January brings back memories of his disruption of multilateral frameworks, including the G20, during his first term.

The G20 leaders are also expected to assess risks to the global economy and trade, at a time when the recent victory of Republican Trump, an advocate of higher tariffs on imports and a hard-liner on China, has heightened uncertainty about the outlook.

The United States, the world's largest economy, has demonstrated surprising resilience despite aggressive interest rate hikes aimed at taming inflation, while many analysts anticipate a soft landing, with the Federal Reserve already entering its easing cycle.

Among the wide-ranging agendas at the two-day G20 gathering in Rio de Janeiro, this year's chair, Brazil, has expressed eagerness to focus on combating poverty and hunger, enhancing global governance and promoting sustainable development.

But rather than such topics, attention is likely to center on how the G20 leaders outline their positions on Russia's war in Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza conflict, trade and climate change in a statement to be released after their discussions.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are scheduled to participate in the G20 meeting after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in neighboring Peru.

Ishiba is slated to attend a G20 summit for the first time since taking office in October, and is expected to continue Japan's push for a rules-based international order and free trade as well as emphasizing the significance of multilateral cooperation.

While Trump has yet to be inaugurated, APEC leaders, at the conclusion of their gathering on Saturday, underscored the importance of effective global collaboration amid "unprecedented and rapid changes" in areas such as trade, climate change and energy.

The leaders pledged to "deliver a free, open, fair, nondiscriminatory, transparent, inclusive and predictable trade and investment environment," echoing the G20's existing commitment to ensuring rules-based, nondiscriminatory trade.

In addition to the Group of Seven countries -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union -- the G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey.