Saudi King Salman: G20 leaders must work towards equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

FILE PHOTO: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz gives virtual speech during the first session of Shura council, from his palace in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, November 11, 2020. Picture taken November 11, 2020. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

Saudi Arabia's King Salman said in his opening remarks to G20 leaders on Saturday that they must work towards affordable and equitable access to vaccines and other tools to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Although we are optimistic about the progress made in developing vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics tools for COVID-19, we must work to create the conditions for affordable and equitable access to these tools for all peoples," he said, opening the meeting of the leaders of the 20 biggest world economies.

European Council President Charles Michel, U.S. President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud are seen on a screen before the start of the virtual G20 meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Brussels, Belgium November 21, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/Pool

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; writing by Raya Jalabi; editing by Mark Potter)