President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping
The distinguished King Salman,
Dear colleagues,
At the outset, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Saudi Arabia, as the presidency, especially His Majesty the King himself, for its great efforts in organizing this summit!
In the past year, mankind has experienced the worst infectious disease pandemic in a century. More than one million people have lost their lives. The world economy has fallen into recession, and the people’s livelihood have been hit hard, affecting more than the international financial crisis in 2008.
After the outbreak of the epidemic, the G20 acted quickly. At the special summit of leaders, it was proposed to strengthen cooperation in prevention and control, promote drug and vaccine research and development, maintain economic and financial stability, ensure the smooth flow of the industrial chain and supply chain, and alleviate the debt burden of developing countries. These measures have brought confidence to the world and led the way for global anti-epidemic cooperation. In this global battle against the COVID-19 epidemic, the G20 has once again played an irreplaceable important role.
At present, the global epidemic is still spreading, and some countries are facing the threat of the second wave of the epidemic. Countries have a long way to go to fight against the epidemic, stabilize the economy and protect people’s livelihood. At the same time, the international pattern has accelerated its evolution, unilateralism and protectionism have risen, and the global industrial chain and supply chain have been impacted. While doing a good job in normal epidemic prevention and control, we should strive to stabilize and restore the economy. I suggest that the G20 make further efforts in the following aspects.
First, build a global anti-epidemic firewall. First of all, we should do a good job in the prevention and control of the epidemic, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and give assistance to other countries. Many G20 members have made positive progress in vaccine research and development and production. They need to accelerate action and support the World Health Organization in coordinating and integrating resources and distributing vaccines fairly and effectively. China actively supports and participates in international cooperation on COVID-19 vaccine. It has joined the “Implementation Plan for COVID-19 Vaccine” and is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the research and development, production, distribution and other aspects of vaccines. We will fulfill our commitment to provide assistance and support to other developing countries in our efforts to make vaccines a public good that is available and affordable for all people.
Second, unblock the context of the operation of the world economy. Under the premise of epidemic prevention and control, we should resume the safe and smooth operation of the global industrial chain and supply chain, reduce tariffs and barriers, and explore the liberalization of trade in important medical materials. We should strengthen the connection of policies and standards, build “fast channels” to facilitate the orderly exchange of personnel. China proposes to establish an international mutual recognition mechanism for health codes based on nucleic acid detection results and in the form of internationally accepted QR codes, hoping that more countries will participate. At the same time, we support the G20 to continue to carry out institutional cooperation and build a global cooperation network on facilitating the movement of people and goods.
Third, give full play to the driving role of the digital economy. The epidemic has inspired the vigorous rise of new technologies, new formats and platforms such as 5G, artificial intelligence and smart cities. The “contactless economy” such as online shopping, online education and telemedicine have been accelerated in an all-round way, providing a new path for economic development. We should take the initiative to respond to the situation, turn crises into opportunities, deepen structural reform, and promote new momentum for development with scientific and technological innovation and digital transformation. We should create a conducive development environment for the digital economy, strengthen cooperation in data security, strengthen the construction of digital infrastructure, and create a level playing field for science and technology enterprises in various countries. At the same time, it is necessary to solve the challenges posed by the digital economy to employment, taxation and socially vulnerable groups, and bridge the digital divide.
Fourth, achieve more inclusive development. We want to continue to help developing countries overcome the difficulties caused by the epidemic. China overcame difficulties and fully implemented the G20 debt relief initiative, with a total amount of more than 1.3 billion US dollars. China supports the decision to extend the maturity of the debt relief initiative and will continue to work with all parties to implement it. It will strengthen debt relief and debt relief for countries with real difficulties, and encourage financial institutions to provide new financing independently in accordance with the principle of marketization. We should help women get rid of the impact of the epidemic, pay attention to the special needs of women, and implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. China has proposed to hold the Global Women’s Summit again in 2025 to contribute to the development of women in the post-epidemic era. In addition, we also need to attach great importance to the challenge of food security and support the United Nations in hosting the World Food Summit next year. China proposes to convene the International Conference on Food Deduction in due course, and welcomes the active participation of G20 members and relevant international organizations.
Dear colleagues!
The COVID-19 epidemic is a major challenge, highlighting the shortcomings of global governance. The international community is very concerned about the international order and global governance in the post-epidemic era, and also concerned about the role that the G20 will play. I believe that we should follow the principle of joint discussion, joint construction and sharing, adhere to multilateralism, adhere to openness and tolerance, adhere to mutually beneficial cooperation, and adhere to keeping pace with the times. The G20 should play a greater leading role in this regard.
First, strengthen the international system with the United Nations at its core. The United Nations is the core mechanism for cooperation in handling international affairs. All parties should firmly safeguard the authority and status of the United Nations, strictly abide by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and safeguard the international order based on international law. We support the United Nations to more effectively build global consensus, mobilize global resources, coordinate global actions, and play a greater role in world peace and development.
Second, improve the governance structure of economic globalization. We must firmly safeguard the rule-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system, support the reform of the World Trade Organization, enhance its effectiveness and authority, promote free trade, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, safeguard fair competition, and safeguard the rights and space of developing countries to develop. We should continue to reform the international financial system, complete the sixteenth round of quota inspection of the International Monetary Fund on time, expand the role of special drawing rights, build a strong global financial safety net, and improve the representation and voice of developing countries. We should face the challenges encountered in economic globalization and make economic globalization develop in a more open, inclusive, inclusive, balanced and win-win direction.
Third, promote the healthy development of the digital economy. In the face of the concerns of countries about data security, digital divide, personal privacy, ethics and other aspects, we should adhere to the people-centered and fact-based policy orientation, encourage innovation, build mutual trust, support the United Nations to play a leading role in this regard, and work together to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory digital development environment. Not long ago, China put forward the Global Data Security Initiative. On this basis, we are willing to discuss and formulate global digital governance rules with all parties. China supports the strengthening of dialogue around artificial intelligence and proposes to hold special conferences in due course to promote the implementation of the principles of G20 artificial intelligence and lead the healthy development of global artificial intelligence. The G20 will also explore the formulation of statutory numeric currency standards and principles in an open and inclusive manner to properly address various risks and challenges in the process of jointly promoting the advancement of the international monetary system.
Fourth, improve the ability to meet global challenges. At present, the most urgent task is to strengthen the global public health system and prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic and other infectious diseases. We should strengthen the role of the World Health Organization, promote the prevention and response of global disease pandemics, strengthen the fence for human health and safety, and build a human health community. We should strengthen international cooperation in the field of ecological environment and protect the earth, our common home for survival. It is necessary to further reduce the production and use of non-essential disposable plastic products. It is necessary to take the opportunity of the 26th United Nations Conference of the Parties to Climate Change and the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity next year to build more consensus and form greater synergy to jointly build a clean and beautiful world and achieve the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. China calls for a comprehensive ban on the illegal trade in wildlife and strengthen wildlife protection exchanges and cooperation.
Dear colleagues!
On the basis of achieving major strategic achievements in the fight against the epidemic, China has achieved steady economic progress. Not long ago, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deliberated and adopted a proposal to formulate the 14th Five-Year Plan, proposing that the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way will be achieved as scheduled. Next year, China will start a new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way. We will scientifically grasp the new stage of development and firmly implement the new development concept. Actively build a new development pattern with the domestic large circulation as the main body and the domestic and international double cycles to promote each other. Constructing a new development pattern is not a closed-door approach, but a need to work from both the supply and demand ends, comprehensively unblock the production, distribution, circulation and consumption links, and build a higher level of open economic new system while improving economic resilience and competitiveness. This will bring more opportunities for countries to share the fruits of China’s high-quality development.
China will always adhere to being the builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. We are willing to coexist peacefully and develop together with all countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, bridge differences through dialogue, resolve disputes through negotiation, and make joint efforts for world peace and development.
Dear colleagues!
“Thousands of sails pass by the side of the sunken boat, and thousands of trees in front of the sick tree spring.” The post-epidemic world will certainly be like a phoenix nirvana and rejuvenate. Let’s work together to create a better and happier life and jointly promote the construction of a community of human destiny!