Obama: G20 summit will showcase Pittsburgh

The choice of Pittsburgh as host city for the G20 summit demonstrates America’s future doesn’t just rest with its largest cities, President Barack Obama said.

Pittsburgh is the first non-capital city selected to host a summit of Group of 20 leaders. Obama told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the two-day session set to begin Thursday will show off the city’s economic transition.

“This is a recognition that Pittsburgh is a world-class city,” he said. “That it represents the transition of the U.S. economy from (an) industrial state to a mix of strong industry — steel — but also now biotech and clean energy. It has transformed itself, after some very tough times, into a city that’s competing in the world economy.”

Obama said the city is an appropriate venue for the G20 summit which will take up the interconnected 21st century economy.