In a multilateral event such as the G20 Summit, the leaders would get to interact with each other during the following events/occasions:

The Summit meeting: The setting would be as in the image below. During such meetings, there would be simultaneous interpretation. The interpreters would be sitting in a transparent booth in a corner of the room. For example, if a leader speaks in Chinese, simultaneous interpreters would be translating Chinese into English or Spanish or Arabic etc. The leaders can choose one of the channels of their headphones and listen to the Chinese leader’s statement in a language of their choice.

Multilateral meeting on the sidelines: For example, a meeting of leaders from BRICS countries on the sidelines of a G20 meeting. The arrangement for interpretation would be similar to the one above, although on a smaller scale since less number of languages are involved.

Bilateral meeting on the sidelines: During bilateral meetings, there is always an interpreter from each side in case the leaders speak different languages. The interpreters do consecutive interpretation. Each interpreter translates the language of her/his leader into the language of the other side. In some cases, one side may not have an interpreter who speaks both languages. In such cases, only one interpreter does the interpretation.

Pull-aside meeting: Sometimes, there is no time to have a formal bilateral meeting or two sides suddenly decide to have a brief interaction of their leaders. To have such a meeting, the two leaders would come out of the Summit meeting when convenient to both of them and meet briefly in a separate room. Interpreter/s are usually present for such meetings, too. However, sometimes during the break, the leaders may decide to have an impromptu pull-aside meeting. The conversation may take place even while they are standing in a corner of the room during the break. Interpreter/s are available for such meetings, too, since they would be hanging around their respective leaders during the break.

Dinner/luncheon meetings: An interpreter may sit behind two leaders in case they don’t speak the same language.

Interaction before the Summit meeting: Leaders arrive one at a time to the venue of the Summit meeting and are received by the leader of the host country. Thereafter, they go into a holding area. In the holding area, usually not more than two people are allowed to be present along with the leader - personal security and interpreter. So, even in this setting, leaders have interpreters with them.

Other occasions such as family photo: Leaders barely interact during such occasions. They may exchange pleasantries. Nevertheless, the interpreters are hanging around in the background to come to assistance when required.

Above said, I’ve rarely seen leaders who have no knowledge of English or don’t have a common language. They may not be perfect in English or in the common language but they know the language good enough to have informal conversations. Also, during any event (bilateral or multilateral) where a Head of State/Government is participating, everything is planned to the minutest detail. Therefore, it never happens that the leaders are left in an awkward situation due to the lack of an interpreter or otherwise.

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

EKONGKING:
How does Buhari communicate ?

EKONGKING:
How does Buhari communicate ?

Davash222:
OP, thanks for the enlightenment. Before now I was thinking the headphones translate automatically, just as Google Voice Translate.
But, Do they still translate in Kanuri?
Asking for our darling Daddy.

During such meetings, there would be simultaneous interpretation.The interpreters would be sitting in a transparent booth in a corner of the room. For example, if a leader speaks in Chinese, simultaneous interpreters would be translating Chinese into English or Spanish or Arabic etc. The leaders can choose one of the channels of their headphones and listen to the Chinese leader’s statement in a language of their choice.

ChiefSosa:

Lol, you're welcome Oga davash!
From the example in the quote above, you can just relate it to Buhari. [b]Plus, buhari understands English.[/b]

The Interpreters:
World leaders usually have various people listening in on their conversations, including aides and interpreters.
Presidential translators will have passed security clearances, background checks and even sat polygraph tests, before they become privy to sensitive information involved in high-level diplomacy.

There are no novices that work at the presidential level. It takes a great deal of time for an interpreter to reach this stage. They are also experts in the subject matter, and they know getting a form of address wrong can be a deal breaker.

IgweOfNnewi:
No fulfude