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.
