The 2020 G20 Riyadh Summit, which was held from November 21-22, was an exceptional affair. Faced with great challenges and responsibility, the Kingdom undertook the leadership of the forum during some of the toughest times brought about by the coronavirus pandemic which affected health, economic, and social facets of life.
It is not an exaggeration to say that it was a decisive year in which Saudi Arabia led G20 countries along the journey of protecting humanity and planet earth from the pandemic’s repercussions. The group held extraordinary meetings to find effective solutions at health, humanitarian, social, and economic levels.
Despite difficult circumstances, the Saudi presidency did not abandon the forum’s principal agenda.
The Kingdom’s presidency set human empowerment, preserving the planet, and shaping new horizons as three main axes that guide the work of the G20, and these axes remained important pillars for reaching solutions to limit the effects of the pandemic on the world.
On human empowerment, the Saudi presidency of the G20 committed itself to ensuring a comprehensive recovery from the pandemic’s fallout and to addressing inequality in receiving diagnostic tools, vaccines, and treatments.
The kingdom also eyed creating appropriate conditions that enable people to live, work, and prosper. G20 immediate actions included protecting lives and jobs from the pandemic’s aftermath.
On preserving the planet, Saudi Arabia worked to unite the stances of G20 countries to work on policies that promote a better more sustainable future, including the importance of conserving the environment and natural resources and addressing climate change.
On creating new horizons, the Saudi presidency poured its effort into speeding recovery from the pandemic. It did so through harnessing the potential of digital technologies and setting the necessary frameworks to promote equal opportunities and ensure electronic communication for all, especially in health services, education, and trade.
The Saudi presidency’s response to the pandemic was both quick and effective, as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - called for an extraordinary summit of G20 leaders last March, a first in G20 history, with the aim of discussing pandemic circumstances and finding ways to address them.
Saudi Arabia has managed to set a distinguished example for the whole world on crisis management. All leaders responded to this important call, actively and decisively approving a number of policies and initiatives that have contributed to limiting the health, social, and economic impacts of the pandemic in all countries.
Last month, G20 countries concluded their work for 2020 by holding the Riyadh Summit, where tangible success could be felt despite the exceptional circumstances. In its final statement, the summit launched major global initiatives and adopted important policies aimed at addressing the pandemic, protecting lives and livelihoods, and building a more robust, sustainable, and inclusive future.
Saudi Arabia received positive feedback from world leaders and international organizations who welcomed the final statement and recognized the huge efforts exerted by the kingdom in cooperation with fellow G20 states.
Going over G20 achievements this year, the Kingdom’s presidency worked to re-align the group’s plan of action to confront the pandemic. G20 leaders committed to taking all necessary measures to overcome the pandemic and protect lives, jobs, and vulnerable groups.
G20 states, collectively, pumped over 11 trillion dollars into the global economy. They also pledged more than 21 billion dollars at the beginning of the crisis to support international efforts to develop diagnostic tools, vaccines, and effective treatments.
Stemming out of its belief in the importance of supporting international efforts to immediately address the pandemic, Saudi Arabia contributed 500 million dollars.
Focused on restoring growth, the Saudi presidency led joint efforts to develop policies and initiatives centered on sparking strong, sustainable, balanced, and comprehensive growth.
G20 leaders also pledged to make all efforts to ensure that new coronavirus vaccines reach everyone in a fair way and that the remaining financing needs for these vaccines are met.
Also, G20 countries established the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, allowing 73 countries to be eligible for a temporary suspension of debt-service payments owed to their official bilateral creditors. This will reduce debt burdens on low-income and vulnerable countries.
A commitment was also made to ensure the flow of essential medical supplies and important agricultural products across borders, despite precautionary lockdown measures.
Overcoming obstacles laid out by the pandemic, the Saudi presidency of the G20 demonstrated great ability in advancing the forum's work through holding more than 224 international meetings and conferences.
The world will not forget Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20, especially that it carried forth the vision of providing a new impetus to global cooperation around the unifying theme of “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”.
At the 2020 G20 Riyadh Summit, more than 50 outcomes were adopted next to over 20 ministerial statements. Such initiative showcases an edge of seriousness in enhancing international cooperation to face global challenges.
Compared to previous years, G20 meetings, which traditionally stand at a total of 85, jumped by some 90%. Recommendations, outcomes, and initiatives also doubled.
G20 leaders, under the Saudi presidency, reiterated unity in their belief that coordinating global actions, solidarity and multilateral cooperation was needed today more than ever to face present challenges.
In their final communique, leaders called for more than just working to recover from the current crisis and urged setting a vision for a "better future" beyond the pandemic.
Under the kingdom’s presidency, the G20 looked to improve protection from pandemics and epidemics in the future by drawing lessons from the current crisis.
Naturally, the Saudi presidency was keen to discuss ways to come up with long-term solutions that address gaps found in global pandemic response schemes. It voiced hope towards completing and enhancing these discussions during the upcoming Italian presidency of the G20.
Advocating a sustainable and secure future, the G20 Riyadh Summit also shed light on the need to prevent environmental degradation, conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use of natural resources, and enact reform.
Preserving oceans, promoting clean air and clean water, responding to natural disasters and extreme weather events, and tackling climate change were cast among the most pressing challenges of our time.
--Saudi G20 Sherpa Dr. Fahad Bin Abdullah al-Mubarak
