São Paulo – Saudi Arabia replaced Japan in the G20’s yearlong rotating presidency on Sunday (1st). The leaders of the world’s 19 biggest economies plus the European Union will descend on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on November 21 and 22, 2020 for the G20 Summit. This will be the event’s first-ever edition in an Arab country – Saudi Arabia is the only Arab country in the bloc. Pictured above: Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman greets Japan’s prime-minister Shinzo Abe during the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan last June.
Saudi king Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud was quoted in a statement as saying that “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is optimistic and seeks to build a vital environment for the G20 to come up with initiatives and outputs that fulfill the hopes of the peoples of the world.”
Heir prince Mohammed Bin Salman said that “the Saudi G20 presidency is committed to continuing the work from Osaka and promoting multilateral consensus.”
Bin Salman also said the Saudi G20 presidency is “committed to continuing the work from Osaka and promoting multilateral consensus. Working with our G20 partners, we will strive to deliver concrete actions and realize opportunities to enable us to face the challenges of the future.”
“The kingdom will focus on three main aims: empowering people, safeguarding the planet, and shaping new frontiers,” the statement read. In the lead-up to the Summit, Saudi Arabia will host over 100 events and conferences, including ministerial meetings and meetings of officials and civil society representatives.
The G20 is an international economic cooperation forum that brings together leaders from developed and developing countries. G20 countries account for a roughly 80% of global economic output, two thirds of the world’s population, and three quarters of international trade, according to the G20 website.
Apart from Saudi Arabia, Japan and the European Union, the G20 comprises Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, South Korea, United States, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, Russia and Turkey. The Summit is also attended by leaders from guest countries and delegates from international organizations such as the World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
*With information from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
