”The G-20 will act, alongside international organisations, in any way deemed necessary to alleviate the impact of the pandemic. G-20 Leaders will put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy,” said an announcement from the G-20 Secretariat in Saudi Arabia, which currently holds the G-20 Presidency.
Health workers (L and C) wearing facemasks check the body temperature of devotees amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, at the entrance of the Durgiana Temple in Amritsar on March 18, 2020. (NARINDER NANU / AFP)
Shortly after the telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia announced that it was communicating with other G-20 countries for an extra-ordinary virtual summit of G-20 leaders next week to advance a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications.
”The G-20 will act, alongside international organisations, in any way deemed necessary to alleviate the impact of the pandemic. G-20 Leaders will put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy,” said an announcement from the G-20 Secretariat in Saudi Arabia, which currently holds the G-20 Presidency.
The announcement came soon after Modi discussed with the Saudi Prince the need for coordinated efforts by G-20 countries to adequately address the challenge posed by coronavirus which has impacted not only the health and well-being of several hundred thousand people but also threatens to adversely affect the economy in many parts of the world, the External Affairs Ministry said.
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In this context, Modi also mentioned India’s recent initiative to organise a video conference among SAARC countries.
The two leaders agreed that a similar exercise at the level of G-20 leaders would be useful at a global scale, both for discussing specific measures to address the challenges posed by the global outbreak of COVID-19 and also to instil confidence in the global populace.
Saudi Arabia said the G-20 leaders would put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy. The summit would build on efforts by finance ministers and bank governors from the G-20 as well as senior health, trade and foreign ministries to determine the much- needed steps in fighting the pandemic.
Last week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had disclosed that Modi had taken the initiative to organise a link up among G-20 leaders to combat pandemic and promised his full support to the Indian leader’s proposal.
The G-20 brings together 20 major global economies. Its members are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
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