WASHINGTON: The Group of 20 leading economies struck a hopeful tone on the outlook for global growth on Friday even as officials fretted that Athen’s inability to strike a deal with its lenders could upset Europe’s tentative recovery.

In a draft of a communique to be released later in the day, G20 finance ministers and central bankers welcomed brighter economic signs in rich economies, but lamented over weakness in some emerging nations.

“Risks to the global economy are more balanced since we last met,” the draft said. “Prospects in advanced economies, notably the euro area and Japan, have improved and this could support a stronger global recovery.”

Still, the group of developed and emerging market nations, which represent around 80 percent of global economic output, warned of risks. “There are challenges, including volatility in exchange rates and prolonged low inflation along with negative interest rates, sustained imbalances and geopolitical tensions,” it said.

While Greece was not mentioned by name in the communique, it was clearly on the minds of top officials in Washington for the G20 gathering, and the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

“The mood is notably more gloomy than at the last international gathering,” British finance minister George Osborne told reporters, adding that discussions on Greece “pervaded” every meeting.

“It’s clear now to me that a misstep or a miscalculation on either side could easily return European economies to the kind of perilous situation we saw three to four years ago.”

Athens has been trying to strike a deal with its IMF and EU creditors to ease the bailout terms the lenders imposed. Until a deal is struck, bailout cash is on hold.

Progress in the talks, however, has been painfully slow and Greece could run out of money ahead of debt repayments next month.

“It’s important that we in the coming days make significant progress, that the process gains momentum,” IMF European Department Director Poul Thomsen told reporters.

“There needs to be a comprehensive package and that will clearly take several weeks or more of discussions,” he said.

Concerns about Greece contributed to stock price declines in Europe and on Wall Street.

The G20, however, sounded guardedly optimistic the global economy was poised for at least a modest recovery.—Reuters