S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 In his opening remarks in the G20 Summit on Saturday (21), Saudi king Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud discussed the role of the member countries in the fight against the pandemic, vaccine, medicine and test production and distribution to low-income countries, and a more inclusive post-COVID world, and how to manage an economic recovery as soon as the coronavirus is under control. The event runs until Sunday (22) and brings together the leaders of the world\u2019s 19 biggest economies plus the European Union.<\/p>\n
This is the event\u2019s first-ever edition in an Arab country. Saudi Arabia assumed the G20 presidency last December and leads the 15th edition of the event.<\/p>\n
The member countries participating in the summit are South Africa, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, United States, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, and United Kingdom plus the EU. Guest countries are the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Spain, Ruanda, Switzerland, Singapura, and Vietnam. Brazil\u2019s president Jair Bolsonaro will also attend the meetings.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s theme is \u201cRealizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All\u201d and focus on three aims. They are \u201cEmpowering People\u201d by unleashing opportunities for all, especially for women and youth, to work and thrive; \u201cSafeguarding the Planet\u201d by fostering collective efforts to protect our commons; and \u201cShaping New Frontiers\u201d by adopting long-term, bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation. Saudi Arabia issued a 20-ryial banknote to mark the G20 presidency.<\/p>\n
Salman opened the meeting by saying that this has been an extraordinary year and that the COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented shock that affected the entire world within a short period of time, causing global economic and social losses. \u201cOur peoples and economies are still suffering from this shock. However, we will do our best to overcome this crisis through international cooperation,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
The Saudi king reaffirmed the commitment made during an extraordinary summit in March to urgently mobilize resources. \u201cWe all pledged, at the onset of the crisis, over USD21 billion to support the global efforts to combat this pandemic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to him, since then, the group\u2019s countries took extraordinary measures to support their economies by injecting over USD11 trillion to support individuals and businesses, extended their social safety nets to protect those who lost their jobs or source of income, and provided emergency support to the developing countries, including the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative to the low-income countries.<\/p>\n
Salman stated that, in the near future, the group must address the vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, while working to protect lives and livelihoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we are optimistic about the progress made in developing vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics tools for COVID-19, we must work to create the conditions for affordable and equitable access to these tools for all peoples. At the same time, we must prepare better for any future pandemic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Saudi king said the G20 must also continue to support the global economy and reopen the economies and borders to facilitate the mobility of trade and people, provide support to the developing countries in a coordinated manner to maintain the development already achieved over the past decades and continue laying the basic foundations for a robust, sustainable, and inclusive growth.<\/p>\n
On empowering people, Salman said it is necessary to promote access to opportunity for all, especially women and youth to enhance their roles in the society and in the job market through education, training, job creation, as well as supporting entrepreneurship, strengthening financial inclusion, and bridging the digital gaps among individuals.<\/p>\n
About preserving the environment, the king said its necessary to create the conditions for a more sustainable economy. He said the G20 must lead the international community in preserving and conserving the environment. \u201cWe advocate the need to combat land degradation and conserve coral reefs and biodiversity to send a strong signal about our commitment to safeguard our planet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Salmand said trade is a key driver of economic recovery. The G20 leaders met for the first time twelve years ago in response to the financial crisis, Salman pointed out. The outcomes achieved are ample proof that the G20 is the most prominent forum for international cooperation and for tackling global crises.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, we are working together again to face another, deeper global crisis, that has ravaged people and economies. With our coming together once more, I am confident that the Riyadh Summit will deliver significant and decisive results and will lead to adopting economic and social policies that will restore hope and reassurance to the people of the world,\u201d he finished.<\/p>\n
The G20, or Group of Twenty, was created in 1999 following successive financial crises in the 1990s aiming at promoting the international negotiation by integrating the principles of a wider dialogue, taking into account the growing economic significance of some countries, which collectively account for 90% of the gross world product, 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world population.<\/p>\n
Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n