Leaders of the Group of 20 nations meeting in the US city of Pittsburgh this week should set an ambitious agenda for “responsible globalisation” that links efforts to promote more balanced growth with financial stability, development and climate change, according to Robert Zoellick, World Bank president.

“The challenge for the G20 is how do you sustain the momentum and co-operation they were able to achieve when staring into the abyss at the time of the London summit as the crisis wanes?” Mr Zoellick told the Financial Times.

He suggested the G20 should take on the global challenges, rather than view the Pittsburgh summit in narrow terms related to the agenda set mid-crisis at the previous G20 summit in London. “The core message of Pittsburgh needs to be more than implementing the agenda set in London, which was mostly about financial stability or reforming bankers' bonuses,” Mr Zoellick said.