NEW YORK: Fahad Al-Mubarak, Saudi Arabia’s G20 sherpa and minister of state, has recently participated alongside the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, in the extraordinary virtual meeting of the Group of Friends of Financing Sustainable Development Goals. During the meeting, Al-Mubarak highlighted that the Kingdom is working within the G20 to create a global initiative with the goal of preparing for and responding to epidemics quickly and effectively in the future. He referenced the G20’s pledge of over $5 trillion to protect the global economy, explaining how leaders have agreed to work together to ensure the flow of biomedical supplies, vital agricultural products and other goods and services across borders. He added that the G20 is committed to cooperation in order to facilitate international trade and coordinate responses in ways that prevent unnecessary interference. He stressed the need for international action and solidarity, emphasizing that this has become ‘more urgent than ever’ in light of the pandemic. In his speech, Al-Mouallimi spoke of the Kingdom’s humanitarian role towards the international community, referring to its support of the legitimate Yemeni government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic. Al-Mouallimi added that as part its international efforts to fight the disease, Saudi Arabia is working in partnership with several UN member states to submit a resolution to the General Assembly. He called on all member states to support this important resolution, stressing the need for the UN, the international community and relevant stakeholders to cooperate to ensure that the economic, humanitarian and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are addressed in a timely manner and that no country is left behind.