The Group of 20 rich and developing nations have promised to give more influence to emerging powers like China in rebuilding and guiding the global economy. They declared their efforts to combat the crisis a success, with plans to maintain economic supports until a sustainable recovery is achieved, establish a framework for coordinated action to rebalance economic growth, and enforce stricter regulations on banks by 2012. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed the agreement as a global plan for jobs, growth, and sustained economic recovery, while US President Barack Obama's hosting of the summit was deemed a success in preventing a depression. In the final communique, leaders expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "It worked." Obama stated that their strong reaction was successful in halting the alarming decrease in global activity and bringing stability to financial markets. He emphasized the need to move away from the traditional boom-and-bust economy and to work together to prevent crises. The G20 summit in Pittsburgh marked a shift in economic cooperation, with the G20 now being considered the main forum for international economic discussions, surpassing the G7 and G8. Colin Bradford, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, described the decision as a significant symbolic gesture in international politics. He emphasized the historical importance of the decision to replace the G7 rather than expand it. On the other hand, Simon Johnson, a former IMF chief economist, expressed skepticism about the G7's relevance and referred to it as a "zombie" that is difficult to eliminate. Johnson acknowledged the interconnectedness within the G7 but noted that their influence at the summit level has diminished. The decision to shift focus from the G7 to the G20 reflects the growing importance of countries like China and India in global economic growth. John Lipsky of the IMF stated that this move acknowledges economic realities and the necessity of including major emerging economies in discussions about the global economy. Additionally, the revelation of a second Iranian uranium enrichment plant allowed Obama, along with leaders from Britain and France, to push for united action against Iran's nuclear program. Obama warned Iran that it must make a decision about its nuclear activities before meeting with world powers in Geneva on October 1. The group still had difficult economic tasks ahead. The G20 made a commitment to avoid repeating the risky behavior that led to the financial crisis two years ago, caused by failing U.S. mortgage loans. The leaders warned against becoming complacent in a time of normalcy and emphasized the importance of sustainable growth and responsible markets. In addition to regulatory reforms set to be implemented by 2012, the G20 also targeted excessive pay for bankers. The leaders came to an agreement that companies should have the ability to recover pay and bonuses in specific situations, to prevent bankers from receiving large payouts for risky bets that turn out badly. They also decided to transfer some voting power at the International Monetary Fund to less represented countries like China, indicating a shift in global economic power. Additionally, the G20 supported a plan to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies to address climate change, and to intensify efforts to finalize the Doha trade negotiations. Leaders also endorsed a U.S.-led initiative to rebalance the global economy by reducing large surpluses in exporting countries like China and deficits in importing nations like the United States. Obama wants to move away from the traditional U.S. strategy of borrowing and spending, and instead focus on saving and investing. This shift will require countries like China, which rely on exports for growth, to also make adjustments. G20 leaders have agreed to collaborate in order to evaluate how domestic policies align and determine if they support more sustainable and balanced growth. Countries with consistent surpluses, like China, have committed to bolstering domestic sources of growth, while countries with large deficits, like the United States, have pledged to encourage private savings. Economists have long warned that these imbalances could harm the global economy, and previous attempts to address them have not been successful. The United States believes that the current effort to boost global trade will be successful due to the significant economic downturn experienced by China and other major exporters during the recession. This demonstrated their vulnerability to external shocks. Despite a united front on climate change, there were some tensions as many Europeans were disappointed by the lack of agreement on funding strategies for combating climate change, especially with a key summit approaching. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso expressed his concerns about the slow progress and urged for more urgency. Away from the G20 convention center, around 10,000 protesters demonstrated against capitalism and the G20's agenda, with some chanting provocative slogans at the police. On Friday, there was just one person arrested and the atmosphere was positive, unlike Thursday's demonstrations which involved confrontations with law enforcement and resulted in numerous arrests.