G20 countries pledge to boost growth, dampen Brexit shock

BEIJING  — Finance officials of major economies have pledged to boost sluggish global economic growth and defend against the shockwaves of Britain's exit from the European Union.

Envoys from the Group of 20 major economies ended a two-day meeting Sunday with a pledge to use government spending and regulatory reforms to strengthen growth but announced no joint action.

Governments at the meeting, which included Britain, called for a "close partnership" between that country and its European neighbors if the British government follows through on plans to leave the trade bloc. They said the British vote to leave the EU has caused turmoil in global markets but that they have taken steps to limit its impact.