Obama calls for global cooperation in op-ed

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama reached out to citizens of the world Tuesday, saying in an op-ed piece that ran in 31 newspapers around the globe that there is an urgent need for worldwide economic cooperation.

Obama's apparently unprecedented move comes ahead of next week's G-20 meeting in London at which leaders of the world's richest nations will discuss the global economic downturn.

"My message is clear," Obama wrote in the op-ed piece. "The United States is ready to lead, and we call upon our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose. Much good work has been done, but much more remains."

Obama spoke specifically about the upcoming G-20 meeting, saying that world leaders have to work together.

"We are living through a time of global economic challenges that cannot be met by half measures or the isolated efforts of any nation," Obama says. "Now, the leaders of the Group of 20 have a responsibility to take bold, comprehensive and coordinated action that not only jump-starts recovery, but also launches a new era of economic engagement to prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again."

The new president also points out that although the United States is separated by two oceans from most of the rest of the world, a global economy renders those geographic distinctions moot.

"Once and for all, we have learned that the success of the American economy is inextricably linked to the global economy," Obama said. "There is no line between action that restores growth within our borders and action that supports it beyond."

Next week's G-20 summit will be Obama's first meeting as president with many of the world's leaders. He will meet many of the Western Hemisphere's leaders at the Fifth Summit of the Americas next month in Trinidad and Tobago.