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It’s been announced that Saudi Arabia will officially host the United Nations G20 summit virtually due to the pandemic.
The G20 Presidency was originally scheduled to take place in Riyadh on November 21 – 22, but due to challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic, the decision has been taken to move the event online.
It is expected that during the summit governments will reveal a ten-point pledge in a bid to reduce the environmental impact on earth and develop a more sustainable approach to the way we live.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud said in a statement on the event’s website: “On behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is my pleasure to welcome you as the Kingdom assumes the 2020 G20 Presidency and announce to the world our pursuit to create a cooperative environment for the G20 to introduce policies and initiatives that will fulfill the hopes of the people of the world.”
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The event will build on the success of the extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit held earlier this year in March, and on the outcomes of over 100 virtual working groups and ministerial meetings.
The topic of the global pandemic is likely to be high on the agenda of the summit, after climate change solutions, of course. “The G20 has contributed over $21 billion to support the production, distribution and access to diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines,” the G20 said in a statement.
The Kingdom had originally planned to host world leaders for the G20 summit in Riyadh before the pandemic, offering Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the chance to meet in person with key global figures, such as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping.
Saudi Arabia said the virtual summit on November 21 and 22 will still be chaired by King Salman and that the agenda will still focus heavily on “protecting lives and restoring growth by addressing vulnerabilities uncovered during the pandemic and by laying down the foundations for a better future,” a formal statement said.
The statement added that G20 countries, which represent the world’s biggest and most powerful economies will be working hard to find solutions “to safeguard the global economy”.
The summit will also focus on fostering international action to realize opportunities of the 21st century for all, by empowering people and protecting our planet, whilst harnessing the potential of innovation to shape new frontiers.
For further information about the G20 including the Presidency Agenda and full program of events, visit g20.org
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