Alexander Woodman

Saudi Arabia will be mentored by fellow G20 members Japan and Argentina in the lead-up to the group’s global summit in Riyadh in 2020 as part of a presidential troika established three years ago.

The Kingdom will host more than 100 events and conferences, including ministerial meetings, in the run-up to the November summit after becoming the first Arab nation to take over the G20 presidency.

The G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017 announced the three-year presidential troika of Argentina, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

At the international body’s 2018 Buenos Aires summit in 2018, the central theme of “Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development” highlighted the need to strengthen economic growth in the face of financial risks and exposures in some emerging economies. The forum ended with a declaration focusing on the future of work, infrastructure for development, a sustainable food future and gender equality.

The 2019 Osaka summit highlighted eight topics to be discussed under the theme “Ensure Global Sustainable Development”: Global economy, trade and Investment, innovation, environment and energy, employment, women’s empowerment, development and health.

Key achievements of the summit included a call for unrestricted and non-discretionary trade policies, an agreement by China and the US to restart trade negotiations, new policies for free data flow, and a program to reduce plastic marine waste to zero by 2050.

In Argentina, G20 leaders agreed to begin implementing reform policies for the World Trade Organization.

World leaders at the Osaka summit agreed to confront economic challenges and build on the achievements of previous presidencies through multi-level talks and meetings.

At the forum’s closing press conference, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: “In this world, where the emphasis tends to be on confrontation, we look for common ground and points of agreement. Under an approach unique to Japan, at this Osaka summit, the G20 unites and sends a strong message regarding global issues. This has provided a major impetus toward concrete actions.”

The cycle of this troika will be closed by Saudi Arabia’s presidency and the Riyadh summit under the theme “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All.”
Discussions will focus on empowering people in education and work, with no gender or age segregation; safeguarding the planet by protecting the environment; and shaping new frontiers by sharing the benefits of innovation and technological progress. ​​

In his official message of the presidency, King Salman said: “We, in the G20, have a collective responsibility to advance global cooperation. We should empower people and pave the way for a better future for all.”

• Alexander Woodman is an author based in the Gulf. His research interests include global health, international health policy development, transnational and transcultural health politics, ethics and international diplomacy.
  alexwoodman.ucla@gmail.com