Leaders of the top economies brought together in Seoul for the G20 economic summit discussed balanced global growth and narrowing the global development gap in the third session of the summit.

The world's richest economies discussing development issues at the G20 will help enhance credibility and legitimacy of the summit among some 170 non-G20 member nations around the world, said South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who chairs the summit.

Tackling development issues is considered an essential task to meet the goals of attaining strong, sustainable and balanced global economic growth by attracting investment into growing economies and helping create new global demands.

The 20 economies currently comprise 85 percent of all global economic activity.

In attendance along with the heads of states were UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank chief Robert Zoellick. Stressing"interconnectedness"between major financial issues dominating the economic summit and development issues, Ban has urged the G20 leaders to adopt concrete action plans to ensure action beyond words.

South African President Jacob Zuma, who co-chairs the Development Working Group of the G20, also actively shared his views on global development.