Italy Prepares Coordination Plan to Assume 2021 G20 Presidency

Italy Prepares Coordination Plan to Assume 2021 G20 Presidency
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Italy Prepares Coordination Plan to Assume 2021 G20 Presidency

Italy Prepares Coordination Plan to Assume 2021 G20 Presidency

A spokesperson for the Italian government said on Sunday that his country has developed a plan for close coordination with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in preparation for its assumption of the rotating presidency of the G20 starting the beginning of 2021.

The spokesperson said that this new presidency would focus on strengthening the international response to the Covid-19 pandemic and address the resulting economic repercussions.

Political sources reported that coordination was ongoing between Rome and Riyadh to prepare a plan to be submitted to the G20 and the European Union aimed at strengthening the World Health Organization (WHO) and its role in facing global health emergencies in the future.

In his speech before the opening session of the summit, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte praised the efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia in seeking financial support to help developing and poor countries face the health crisis and its repercussions.

Emphasizing the need for further support, Conte said that innovative financing tools, mechanisms and an active engagement by the private sector were required to restore global economic growth.

He added that this crisis demonstrated the need for targeted investments to strengthen the international health system, improve the capacities to face environmental and social shocks, and put in place the necessary mechanisms to prevent future outbreaks from turning into economic crises.



Egypt and Kuwait Align on Gaza Reconstruction, Reject Displacement

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)
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Egypt and Kuwait Align on Gaza Reconstruction, Reject Displacement

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait. (KUNA)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi concluded a three-day Gulf tour on Tuesday with a visit to Kuwait, following a stop in Qatar.

He held high-level talks with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in discussions described by analysts as both politically and economically significant given the volatile regional climate.

At the heart of the Egyptian-Kuwaiti summit were developments in the Gaza Strip, with both nations reaffirming the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the continuation of hostage and detainee exchanges, and the rapid entry of sufficient humanitarian aid, said a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

Both Cairo and Kuwait City expressed full support for the Arab plan to rebuild Gaza, stressing the importance of implementing the plan without delay once a ceasefire is reached.

The two leaders also reiterated their firm opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians and underscored the need for a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue — one that ensures the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sisi's visit underscored what Egyptian MP Mostafa Bakry described as “a unified and coordinated stance between Egypt and Kuwait, as well as with other Gulf and Arab nations, during a critical period for the region.”

He noted that the outcome of the talks demonstrated “a shared commitment to ending the war in Gaza and moving quickly to implement the Arab reconstruction plan — a key objective that signals to the world the Arab world’s unified rejection of displacement and any efforts to erase the Palestinian cause.”

Beyond Gaza, Sisi and Sheikh Meshal also discussed broader regional developments, including the ongoing crises in Syria and Sudan. The leaders expressed support for the sovereignty and stability of the two nations, along with continued backing for Yemen’s legitimate government.

They also emphasized the strategic importance of safeguarding maritime security in the Red Sea and regional waterways.

In remarks carried by the Egyptian presidency, the Kuwaiti Emir hailed Sisi’s visit as a testament to the “deep and historic ties” between their countries, calling it an opportunity to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors — particularly economic and investment-related areas.

Sisi, for his part, affirmed Egypt’s commitment to expanding its partnership with Kuwait, especially in economic cooperation. He underlined the importance of increasing bilateral trade and investment to serve the mutual interests of both peoples.