Saudi Arabia Calls for G20 Summit to Combat Coronavirus

People walk near a banner with an instruction on personal hygiene, following the outbreak of coronavirus, at a street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 16, 2020. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia called on Tuesday for holding an extraordinary virtual meeting for the leaders of the G20 to combat the new coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Arabia, which chairs the Group of 20 major economies, said next week’s summit aims “to put forward a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy.”

The Kingdom said it was in constant contact with the G20 members to hold the meeting, stressing that the global health crisis and its consequent humanitarian, economic and social impact demand a global response.

The G20 will work with international agencies in order to ease the impact of the pandemic, it added.

The coronavirus has infected 171 people in Saudi Arabia as of Tuesday.

Gulf states have registered more than 1,000 infections, many linked to travel to neighboring Iran, which is an epicenter for the outbreak in the Middle East.

The virus has infected more than 187,000 people, while the death toll was more than 7,400. There have now been more cases and deaths outside mainland China, where the virus emerged, than inside.