The G20 leaders are expected to yield a joint statement on COVID-19, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in a statement here on Wednesday.
Jokowi will engage in online discussions with other G20 leaders and chairmen of related international organizations, including the UN, WHO, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (IMF), concerning issues on the pandemic crisis and its economic and social impacts, as the outbreak has impacted the global supply chain.
The IMF estimates that COVID-19 can have potential adverse impacts akin to the 2008 global economic crisis. To this end, the world waits eagerly for the G20 summit in pursuit of financial and economic stability.
By participating in the G20 Summit, the Indonesian president will encourage global solidarity that necessitates joint and coordinated actions, such as the importance of access to affordable health equipment and vaccines.
For Indonesia and other developing nations, financial support, through bilateral, regional, or multilateral mechanisms globally, should be backed by intensified international cooperation in tackling COVID-19 and curbing its economic and social impacts.
Prior to the virtual G20 Extraordinary Summit, chaired by Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud as this year's G20 president, member countries had held a virtual meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors on Monday (Mar 23) and a G20 Sherpa meeting on Tuesday.
The G20 finance ministers and central bankers concurred on mapping out an "action plan" to respond to the outbreak, which the IMF expects will fuel a global recession.
At the G20 Sherpa meeting, Indonesia had highlighted the need for the G20 to focus on supporting developing nations and least developed countries (LDCs) as they are believed to be most vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the leaders of the G20 group, the heads of state of Jordan, Spain, Singapore, and Switzerland will participate in the summit.
In its capacity as sitting president of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, the UAE will participate as well.
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Translator: Yashinta DP, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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