on 17 september 2020, g20 chair saudi arabia hosted a joint video conference of finance and health ministers. the meeting focused on the shortcomings of global pandemic preparedness and response, as well as recommendations for next steps, and issued a joint statement. minister of finance liu kun attended the meeting and delivered a speech, accompanied by vice minister zou jiayi.
the meeting noted that the urgent task now is to defeat the covid-19 pandemic and mitigate its health, social and economic impact. the g20 will continue to use all available policy tools to support the global economic recovery and enhance the resilience of health and financial systems. as part of implementing the g20 action plan to support the global economy through the covid-19 crisis, the meeting stressed the need for continued collective action to promote international cooperation and joint response to the crisis. the g20 will invest in effective health responses, build inclusive health systems, and make widespread immunization against covid-19 a global health public good, while urging multilateral development banks to consider as soon as possible how to increase their financial support for countries to respond to covid-19. the meeting noted that the g20 recognized the important role of the united nations system and its agencies, including the world health organization, in coordinating and supporting the global response to the covid-19 pandemic. the g20, with the support of relevant international organizations, will make recommendations before the g20 leaders' summit in 2020 on how to address deficiencies in global pandemic preparedness and response.
liu kun pointed out that in the face of covid-19, people of all countries have come to each other's assistance and stand together through thick and thin. chinese president xi jinping has called for building a community of human health and put forward a series of chinese proposals. on how to strengthen global pandemic preparedness and response, liu put forward three suggestions. first, promote common actions. china will continue to support who in playing a leading role in the global fight against covid-19, continue to implement the g20 action plan and promote international cooperation on epidemic prevention and control. second, we will increase capital mobilization. on the basis of increased input in public health, developed countries should implement their oda commitments, and international financial institutions should enhance their financing capacity through the issuance of special drawing rights and other means to provide more financial support to developing countries. third, promote inclusiveness and sharing. we will continue to implement the universal health coverage agenda, increase protection for vulnerable groups, and promote the building of a human health community.
liu kun said that the chinese government attaches great importance to disease prevention and control work and has been increasing input to improve the efficiency of expenditure. by july 2020, china had allocated 186.4 billion yuan in covid-19 prevention and control funds that year. china will continue to increase financial input, build a strong public health system, and effectively provide strong protection for people's health.
source: ministry of finance, prc