Photography: Bandar Al-Jaloud

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Rome - The G20 Leaders Summit began today in Rome, Italy.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, headed the Kingdom’s delegation to the summit’s work via video communication.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques delivered, in the first session, entitled “The Global Economy and Health”, in which he stressed that the Kingdom continues in its leadership role to solve the world’s crises.

He added that poor countries are facing difficulties in obtaining Corona vaccines, noting that unprecedented measures have been taken to confront the repercussions of the pandemic.

He stressed that the Kingdom supports efforts to supply the world with clean energy, pledging to support the stability and balance of energy markets.

King Salman said that the global economy is still suffering from the consequences of the Corona pandemic, despite some recovery.

The text of the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

Their Majesties, Majesty, State and Highnesses,

Honorable attendees

Peace, mercy and blessings of God:

We thank you, Mr. President, for your efforts to make the work of the Group of Twenty this year a success, noting the vital topics included in your presidency program.

The conditions of the pandemic required that the Group of Twenty play its pivotal role in confronting it, and indeed our countries have taken unprecedented measures to deal with it.

In this regard, the Kingdom led last year, with your cooperation, the international response to this pandemic, and its health, economic and social effects.

Now, more than twenty months later, the global economy is still suffering from its consequences. Despite the recovery journey that has begun in some economies, low-income countries are facing difficulty in obtaining and distributing vaccines.

Hence the importance of the role of the Group of Twenty in promoting cooperation and assistance in obtaining vaccines.

With regard to the Kingdom’s handling of the pandemic; The policies we have taken since the beginning of the crisis; It contributed to alleviating its health, economic and social effects, and helped speed recovery.

Honorable attendees

The Kingdom shares the countries of the world’s concern about the challenges of climate change, and its economic and social effects. The Kingdom will continue its leading role in providing the world with clean energy, by supporting more innovation and development, and we call for more sustainable and comprehensive solutions that take into account the different circumstances of our countries.

The Kingdom is also continuing its leading role in economic and health recovery from global crises, and in finding a balance to achieve security and stability in energy markets.

Finally, we look forward to more multilateral cooperation to achieve prosperity and prosperity in our countries, and in the whole world.

And I thank you for listening.

Saudi delegation

The Kingdom’s participating delegation includes His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, His Excellency Minister of State and Cabinet Member Dr. Musaed bin Muhammad Al-Aiban, His Excellency Minister of State and Cabinet Member Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, and His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning and His Excellency the Assistant Special Secretary to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Mr. Tamim bin Abdulaziz Al-Salem.

The Kingdom’s delegation in Rome also includes His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency the Minister of Finance, His Excellency the Minister of Health, His Excellency the Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, and the Saudi Sherpa.

On behalf of the Saudi leadership, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the opening of the summit in Rome.

Summit agenda

On the summit agenda are issues of climate change, economic recovery from the effects of COVID-19 and the global minimum corporate tax rate.

The opening session focused on health and the economy, with a sideline meeting for key leaders to discuss next steps on Iran’s nuclear program.