Hangzhou, China, Dhu-AlQa'dah 29, 1437, Sep 1, 2016, SPA -- Forceful economic reforms are needed in the face of global economic weakness and calls for isolationism, warned the International Monetary Fund Thursday, in a challenge to Group of 20 leaders as they prepare to gather in China, dpa reported. "This meeting comes at an important moment for the global economy," Managing Director Christine Lagarde said. "The political pendulum threatens to swing against economic openness, and without forceful policy actions, the world could suffer from disappointing growth for a long time." She pointed to weak global growth and rising economic inequality that "is feeding a political climate in which reforms stall and countries resort to inward-looking policies." The meeting in Hangzhou, set to start Sunday, is the first for the leaders of the world's key economies since Britain voted in June to leave the European Union. Leaders are expected to discuss the fallout with Prime Minister Teresa May on the sidelines of the summit. The IMF pointed to structural reforms agreed by the leaders two years ago at a summit in Australia that were designed to lift economic growth by 2 per cent during the course of five years. The measures have so far yet to produce the desired growth and G20 nations need to recommit themselves to those reforms, it argued. Individual countries should also consider additional steps to encourage growth, Lagarde said. The Washington-based IMF said average growth rates in the G20 member countries of 1.5 per cent look to remain a percentage point below long-term averages in the medium term. -- SPA 21:39 LOCAL TIME 18:39 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w