G20 summit ends with support for COVID-19 vaccine access for all

G20 summit ends with support for COVID-19 vaccine access for all

RIYADH - Leaders of the world's most powerful nations wrapped up the Group of 20 summit on Sunday, vowing to spare no effort to protect lives and ensure affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all people.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud rounded out the two-day summit, saying the G20's final statement “succeeded in sending out a message of hope and reassurance to our citizens and all people around the world.”

“This is what the world has been expecting from us. This achievement today is a culmination of our joint efforts throughout this challenge-fraught year,” the Saudi monarch said.

Saudi Arabia presided over the G20 this year and was host of the virtual summit, which was originally intended to be held in-person in Riyadh before the pandemic. During the Saudi king's speech, small video squares showed the leaders of Germany, France, the UK, Canada, South Korea, China, India and South Africa watching the final remarks. Trump participated in the summit with prerecorded speeches, but was not in attendance for the virtual summit's conclusion.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Sunday proposed holding two G20 summits annually in the future: one virtually mid-year, and a second in-person at the end of the