COVID-19 Response G20 Meeting Convened... Opportunity for China to Highlight Its Role

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] The convening of the Group of Twenty (G20) summit to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has strengthened China's role as it approaches the final stage of ending COVID-19.

On the 19th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the upcoming G20 summit will be held via video conference next week to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting economic shock.

Saudi Arabia, the G20 chair country, also announced on the 18th (local time), "As the G20 chair, we are coordinating with member country leaders on urgently holding the G20 summit next week via video conference." Saudi Arabia added, "The agenda will include more advanced joint responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact," and stated, "At the meeting, G20 leaders will present coordinated policies to protect their citizens and the global economy."

SCMP noted that although the G20 summit was originally scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 21-22, the decision to convene an emergency meeting next week indicates the urgency among world leaders to agree on measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 and minimize economic shocks.

When the G20 meeting takes place, China's role is expected to be highlighted.

China, which first experienced the spread of COVID-19, has shown success in controlling the virus, with the number of newly confirmed domestic cases excluding overseas re-imports being as low as one. This contrasts with the rapidly increasing spread in countries around the world. SCMP assessed that this provides China with an opportunity to raise its global contribution by sharing its China-style COVID-19 control and prevention methods with the world at the upcoming G20 meeting.

On the same day, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, emphasized in an editorial titled "China's COVID-19 Battle Reflects the Responsibility of a Major Country," that "China firmly protects the lives and health of its people. Moreover, it safeguards the lives and health of people worldwide and strives for global public health security." It further stated, "China's COVID-19 prevention situation has continuously improved, and production and daily life order have rapidly recovered. China's achievements have contributed valuable time for countries worldwide to prepare for COVID-19 prevention," adding, "Epidemics know no borders. The strongest weapon to win is for countries to unite and fight together."

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