China’s President Xi Jinping used his speech to the 15th G20 Leaders’ Summit on Nov. 21-22 to again call for international cooperation to defeat the coronavirus pandemic, which he described as “the most serious global pandemic in a century.” He stated that “Over 1 million people have lost their lives. The world economy is in recession. Societies and livelihoods are taking a big hit. The impact of COVID-19 is even worse than that of the 2008 global financial crisis.… As we speak, the pandemic is still wreaking havoc across the world, and some countries face the threat of a second wave of infections. To contain the virus, stabilize the economy and protect livelihood remains a long and arduous journey for all countries.”
Xi made some specific proposals to address aspects of the global crisis: “First, build a global firewall against COVID-19. We must first put the disease under control at home and, on that basis, strengthen exchanges and cooperation to help countries in need.” He noted that “Several G20 members have made progress in vaccine R&D and production,” but added that it is imperative that nations also “work to make vaccines a global public good accessible and affordable to people around the world.” On broader economic matters, he stated that “We ought to adapt to change and turn crisis into opportunity. We may deepen structural reform and cultivate new growth drivers through scientific and technological innovation and digital transformation.”
