G20 Leaders Committed to Combating Covid-19 Crisis

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi accompanied President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the G20 Extraordinary Summit through video conferencing, at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Thursday (26/3). (Photo by: BPMI)

Coordination, synergy, solidarity, and solidity have become the global spirit at this year’s G20 Extraordinary Summit on the Handling of the Coronavirus Outbreak, according to Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

Retno made the statement after accompanying President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the G20 Extraordinary Summit through video conferencing at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Thursday (26/3).

“This year’s G20 Extraordinary Summit was attended by G20 member countries and related international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund,” Retno said.

According to Retno, the G20 Extraordinary Summit is evidence of the G20 global leadership in dealing with the current crisis, adding that the covid-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerabilities.

“The virus respects no state borders. Therefore, there is a sense of solidarity, cooperation, and synergy found in all the G20 leaders’ statement in terms of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

The Minister also said there was a high level of commitment or determination from all leaders to protect the people’s health.

“The G20 leaders also committed to preserving financial stability, reviving growth, and resolving disruptions to global supply chains,” the Minister said.

Retno added that several G20 leaders also called on other leaders to assist developing countries and less developed countries to overcome this global health crisis.

“In his statement during the video conferencing, the President underlined the importance of global cooperation, solidity, and synergy,” Retno said.

On that occasion, the President, Retno added, also delivered a strong message that Indonesia and other G20 member countries should win two wars at once, including the war to fight against the covid-19 pandemic and to restore global economic stability.

Retno further said the G20 leaders’ have expressed commitments to take several measures, including combating the covid-19 pandemic, safeguarding  global economy, minimizing disruptions to trade, and strengthening global cooperation.

“That is all the spirits delivered by the G20 leaders and the President in the G20 Extraordinary Summit through video conferencing on the Handling of the Covid-19,” the Minister said. (FID / MAY / TGH / UN / EN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas