Press Statement by the Global Governance Group (3G) on the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit, 26 March 2020

1        The Global Governance Group (3G)¹ welcomes the initiative by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), in its capacity as the 2020 G20 Presidency, to convene an Extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit on the COVID-19 pandemic on 26 March 2020.

2        The public health, economic, and social impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the most serious global public health crisis in a century.  Hence, the 3G appreciates the G20’s leadership and agrees that combatting the COVID-19 pandemic requires a robust response and international cooperation.  The 3G welcomes the G20’s commitment to work with the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), and other relevant International Organisations, to deal with this common threat.

3        On fighting the pandemic, the 3G agrees that all countries should fully support the United Nations (UN), including the WHO, in its efforts to contain its spread.  This includes considering support for the UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan and taking into consideration the WHO’s recommendations on the sharing of information and best practices, as well as encouraging more collaboration in research in order to accelerate the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. 

4        The UN is the most inclusive and legitimate international organisation, with universal membership, in global standard setting and plays a central role in coordinating a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The outcomes of the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit should be coordinated with the UN in order to reinforce complementarities and promote more effective, accountable and inclusive global governance.

5        In addition, the 3G supports the G20’s call for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) to closely monitor the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on markets and economic conditions, and take further action to support the global economy and countries suffering from the current situation.  To this end, the 3G supports the proposal for the FMCBG to develop a joint G20 Action Plan in response to COVID-19.  The 3G also welcomes the measures taken by many countries to support affected business and to save jobs as we grapple with this unprecedented crisis and encourages all countries to take necessary measures to reduce inequality within and among countries.

6        The 3G calls on the G20 to consider supporting ongoing efforts undertaken by governments, in particular those in the most vulnerable countries, to alleviate the disruptive economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including through debt cancellations by bilateral and multilateral partners.  Such support will help governments cope with unexpected and sudden increases of public spending in public health and other affected sectors, and to address the drastic economic consequences of the pandemic.

7        At the same time, the 3G strongly emphasises the importance of maintaining open and connected supply chains to avoid the collapse of the world economy and further loss of jobs.  It is in our mutual interest to facilitate the unimpeded flow of goods, including essential supplies needed to deal with the pandemic, as far as possible.  The 3G welcomes the G20’s commitment to work together to facilitate international trade and coordinate responses that avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade, in accordance with the WHO International Health Regulations (2005) and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.  Short-term emergency measures aimed at protecting health should be targeted, proportionate, and temporary.

8        The 3G appreciates the outreach efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during its 2020 G20 Presidency, as international cooperation from all countries are essential, especially with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, and looks forward to continuing our constructive engagement with the Saudi Presidency on its priorities. 

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28 March 2020

[1]          The 3G comprises the following 30 Member States of the United Nations: Bahamas, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, the Republic of Finland, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kuwait, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Principality of Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Republic of the Philippines, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of San Marino, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.