SHANGHAI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts have called for concerted efforts from G20 members in the fight against the novel coronavirus which has been rapidly spreading worldwide and is hurting the global economy.
Zhang Haibing, a researcher with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, suggested the establishment of G20 ministerial-level health dialogue with designated task forces to jointly tackle the challenge.
"As a major platform for global coordination of economic affairs, G20 should play an active role similar to that during the 2008 financial crisis," Zhang told Xinhua on Wednesday.
Consensus needs to be established in such fields as joint financial stimulus plans, securing the supply chains related to epidemic prevention, and helping developing countries and vulnerable groups, Zhang added.
Saudi Arabia, the G20 Presidency in 2020, proposed a video G20 summit to discuss the pandemic.
Zhang said the G20 should promote dialogues and exchanges in international health cooperation, make good use of the G20 peripheral dialogue platform, and enhance mutual understanding and assistance among countries through the Business 20, Women 20, Youth 20 and other platforms.
"The pandemic should be a new opportunity to strengthen cooperation among countries, instead of a weapon against economic globalization," she said.
"As an important mechanism for global governance, the G20 should resolve differences and make united commitments," said Tang Bei, an associate researcher at Shanghai International Studies University, adding that the novel coronavirus pandemic is a global challenge.
Tang said the G20 members should come up with a health action plan during the summit and make commitments to and arrangements for a global response to the pandemic.
