Saudi Arabia’s King closed the G20 Riyadh Summit
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abzulaziz, related in his closing comments at the G20 Riyadh Summit, that the G20 group had adopted important policies that will achieve recovery all the way to an economy that is resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and balanced.
The coronavirus pandemic was the main subject of the virtual G20 summit, and also its consequences and the need for a collective effort to contain the outbreak and guarantee vaccines and treatments for all people.
Indeed, the COVID-19 virus has infected about 57.7 million people and killed more than 1.38 million. In the coming months, with the onset of cold weather and the holidays, it’s worried that the virus will kill thousands.
The G20 leaders related in their final announcement that they would spare no effort to ensure the fair distribution of vaccines against the coronavirus worldwide, and support poor countries whose economies have been hit by the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The G20 leaders also said in a closing statement: We have mobilized resources to address the immediate financing needs in global health to support the research, development, manufacturing and distribution of safe and effective COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
Saudi Arabia’s King said its closing remarks on the last day of the G20 Riyadh Summit:
Your Majesties, Your Excellencies, Your Highnesses,
Dear participants,
May peace be with you, I would like to thank you for your active participation over the last two days. We were able to reaffirm the spirit of cooperation that has always been the cornerstone of the G20 successes. This spirit is necessary today more than ever to face the impacts of this pandemic and to build a prosperous future for the people of the world.
We have achieved a lot this year. We have upheld our commitment to continue to work together to rise to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to safeguard lives and livelihoods and protect the most vulnerable groups. We have adopted important policies that will achieve recovery all the way to an economy that is resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and balanced. These policies will also maintain the momentum to make the global trade system work for all, and create the conditions to achieve sustainable growth.
Most importantly, we have succeeded in sending out a message of hope and reassurance to our citizens and all people around the world through the Final Communique of this Leaders’ Summit. And it is my honor to announce that the G20 members have adopted this communique. This is what the world has been expecting from us. This achievement today is a culmination of our joint efforts throughout this challenge-fraught year.
Our joint and individual actions will be critical in overcoming the immediate global challenge we are facing. Looking forward, through Empowering People, Safeguarding the Planet, and Shaping New Frontiers, we will work on laying the foundations to achieve the main theme of our Presidency: Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All.
Due to its unique stature regionally and internationally, and its unique location which interconnects three continents and lies at the intersection of emerging and developed markets, the Kingdom will continue to play a key role within the G20 to achieve global cooperation and find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges of the 21st century, in collaboration with our partners in the G20 and other countries.
This was the first time that Saudi Arabia had the honor of holding the Presidency of the G20, and it turned out to be a very challenging year. Nevertheless, with your support, we managed to rise to the challenge together.
I would like to express my gratitude to our partners in the Troika, Japan and Italy, who helped us to achieve our program this year.
I have the pleasure to pass the honor and responsibility of the 2021 G20 Presidency to the Italian Republic, wishing them every success. We stand ready to provide support in any way possible.
I would like to thank all participants in this summit. It has been the honor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to hold the G20 Presidency through this extraordinary year in human history.
May peace be with all of you.
I now adjourn the Riyadh G20 Summit.
