South Africa voiced dismay on Thursday that Group of 20 talks it hosted on global economic issues ended without consensus, after top officials from several countries skipped it and delegates remained far apart on issues such as climate finance.

G20 talks hosted by South Africa failed to reach consensus, focusing on climate finance. Key finance officials from several countries were absent, and discussions ended without a joint communique. A chair's summary highlighted commitments against protectionism and the need for a transparent multilateral trading system.

Finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of 20 developed and developing nations have gathered in South Africa for a two-day meeting.

A meeting of finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 nations failed on Thursday to come up with a joint communique, with a "chair's summary" issued by the South African host reiterating a commitment to resisting protectionism.

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - A number of finance ministers skipped a gathering of the Group of 20 top economies in South Africa on Wednesday, and other top officials curtailed trips to a meeting marred by disputes over the main issues of climate, debt and inequality.

The two-day meeting in Cape Town ended without a communique, with current G20 leader South Africa saying there was not sufficient consensus to issue one. In his opening remarks at the event, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa referred to the fractured geopolitical climate and stressed the importance of international cooperation.