King Salman calls on G20 countries for more cooperation against Covid

King Salman delivers a virtual speech during an opening session of the 15th annual G20 Leaders' Summit in Riyadh on Saturday, November 21.

VIA REUTERS - BANDER ALGALOUD

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

No big show or private jets, but computer screens for any setting.

Pandemic requires, the G20 summit is taking place this weekend under the leadership of Saudi Arabia by videoconference.

Which does not help for the backstage exchanges.

The meeting was opened this Saturday by King Salman who appealed for cooperation between the G20 countries to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Publicity

Read more

The vaccine race dominated the interventions.

“

 The whole world is watching

 ,” King Salman said.

We must therefore create the conditions for affordable and equitable access to vaccines for all.

A wish shared by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has promised to strengthen his country's cooperation in research, development, production and distribution of vaccines.

"

 We will help developing countries so that vaccines become a public good

 ", assured the Chinese president.  

►

See also: The Covid-19 at the heart of a virtual G20 organized for the first time by Saudi Arabia

Relieve the debt of poor countries

The other strong point of this summit is aid to poor and heavily indebted countries.

The G20 countries have decided to endorse - by extending it for six months until mid-2021 - the moratorium on debt service for developing countries.

World Bank President David Malpass welcomed the progress made, while urging leaders to go further towards

debt relief,

especially for African countries.

“ 

The debt challenge can take us back to the defaults that these countries already experienced thirty years ago, 

” he said. 

►

To listen also: G20: the Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva exclusively on RFI

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • G20

  • Saudi Arabia

  • Coronavirus

  • Mohammed bin salman

On the same subject

Vaccine against Covid-19: G20 countries called on to supplement the WHO fund

Covid-19 at the heart of a virtual G20 organized for the first time by Saudi Arabia

International guest

"This is the first time that an Arab country chairs this G20"