Saudi Arabia Calls for United Front in Fighting Pandemic
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat
World leaders and organizations pledged $8 billion to research, manufacture and distribute a possible vaccine and treatments for COVID-19 on Monday. Organizers included the European Union and non-EU countries Britain, Norway and Saudi Arabia. Leaders from Japan, Canada, South Africa and dozens of other countries joined the virtual event, while China, where the virus is believed to have originated, was only represented by its ambassador to the European Union. The video conference was called for Saudi Arabia in its capacity as president of the G20. “In the space of just few hours we have collectively pledged 7.4 billion euros ($8.1 billion) for vaccine, diagnostics and treatment” against COVID-19, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said after chairing the online event. “This will help kick-start unprecedented global cooperation,” she added. Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah highlighted the pioneering role played by the G20 in confronting the pandemic, pointing to his call in March for Monday's summit to be held. He announced that at the order of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia had donated 500 million dollars for the fight against the outbreak. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed that the Kingdom had exerted national efforts to bolster the rapid response to the repercussions of the pandemic and limit it health, economic and human impact. He said that Saudi Arabia was quick to take all preventive measures to protect the safety of its citizens and residents without exception. As G20 president for 2020, he added that Saudi Arabia took the initiative in calling for an extraordinary summit for the group. The summit was chaired by King Salman and aimed at bolstering international efforts to combat the outbreak. In addition to the 500 million dollars to fight the global outbreak, it also donated 10 million to the World Health Organization, he continued. Saudi Arabia also extended its generosity to a number of countries affected by the pandemic. It offered 38 million to the legitimate government in Yemen and signed agreements to provide necessary medical equipment to more than 2 million Palestinian beneficiaries in the Gaza Strip, he stated. Prince Faisal underlined the need to intensify international efforts to confront diseases and epidemics. "If we want to emerge stronger after this crisis, then we must exchange accurate and transparent information at the right time. We must provide the necessary resources and scientific research and develop medicines and vaccines to meet the growing demand for medical supplies," he remarked. "We are fighting in one battle against a single enemy. We are now more aware of the limits of individual efforts to combat such a serious pandemic," he said. "God willing, with our solidarity and cooperation, we will help us overcome this crisis and emerge stronger than before," he hoped.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2268056/saudi-arabia-calls-united-front-fighting-pandemic
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