Nov. 24, 2020–The overriding theme at this year’s G20 Summit was cooperation, not only on controlling the global pandemic but also a vast array of economic and social issues.
Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga promised to “lead international society in realizing a decarbonized world” to address climate change, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called for cooperation on trade, low tariffs and a global governance system for the digital economy.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the host, praised the governments for injecting over $11 trillion into the global economy and providing debt relief to the most vulnerable countries.
Lengthy List of Goals
Overall, the final Leaders Declaration addresses the following: the digital economy, trade and investment, financial stability, taxation, anti-bribery and corruption, sustainable development for poor countries, employment, internationalization in education, environment and climate change, migration, crypto-currency and food security.
No doubt, each one of the topics is relevant in its own right, and the declaration is worth reading. The emphasis is on global cooperation is normal for a G20 meeting. But this year, it seemed stronger in light of the global pandemic that affects every corner of the Earth.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin called for a greater commitment toward global trade. “Urgent issues that have accumulated in international trade also need to be addressed. Thus, it is necessary to try to contain protectionism, to abandon the practice of unilateral sanctions and to resume delivery chains,” Putin’s statement reads.
China Pitches Cooperation & Global Governance
Perhaps no one went farther in theme of global cooperation than Chinese President Xi Jinping. He put forward ideas to strengthen ties in an international order.
“The grave challenge of COVID-19 has exposed the deficiencies of global governance,” Xi said. “The international community has a keen interest in the post-COVID international order and global governance as well as the future role for the G20. In my view, the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits should guide our way forward.”
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Patti Mohr