2020 G20 2nd Sherpa Meeting Held... Discussion on International Cooperation Agenda for COVID-19 Response

Saudi Travel Restriction Measures Conducted via Video Conference

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Choi Kyung-rim, G20 International Cooperation Ambassador, participated in the 2nd Sherpa Meeting held on the 12th in a video conference format to prepare for this year's G20 Summit.

The meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, from the 11th to 12th, but due to Saudi Arabia's travel restrictions and the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), about half of the member countries found it difficult to attend physically, so it was held in a shortened half-day schedule via video conference.

To prepare for the G20 Summit, Sherpas appointed by each member country perform pre-negotiation representative activities such as ?collecting and overseeing opinions related to the summit agenda, and ?overseeing external negotiations with member countries. The term ‘Sherpa’ refers to essential personnel who advise on everything from selecting the climbing route to finalizing the climbing time during Himalayan mountain expeditions.

In this meeting, the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and international cooperative response were discussed as core agenda items. A joint declaration was agreed upon emphasizing cooperation to curb the spread of COVID-19, minimize its impact on the global economy, and close collaboration with international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ambassador Choi explained South Korea’s response status, where the number of confirmed cases is showing a declining trend through rapid and transparent diagnosis and management, and emphasized that responses to international health crises must be conducted according to WHO regulations to avoid unnecessary restrictions on trade and movement.

Additionally, discussions were held on the themes of △health △trade and investment △energy and climate change, and Ambassador Choi requested member countries’ interest in the P4G Summit for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030, scheduled to be held in South Korea this June.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.