WASHINGTON/RIYADH — The Group of 20 major economies faces mounting pressure to bridge internal divisions and unite against the coronavirus, just as it coalesced to address the 2008-09 global financial crisis. Many questions remain before an impromptu leaders next week announced by current host Saudi Arabia, including what action could be agreed, what technology will be used to communicate given the leaders will not be meeting in person, and even the date. Current and former officials associated with the G20 say it has shirked its role as a global "fire station" since last month's meeting in Riyadh where finance officials played down the risks posed by the outbreak. "The G7 and G20 played a more forceful role in the global financial crisis," one international finance official told Reuters. "We would have expected those two bodies to respond much more proactively to this situation."

Source: International New York Times March 20, 2020 13:02 UTC