The G20 is the best multilateral means to coordinate a global response to the novel coronavirus epidemic. It is important to convene a G20 Health Ministers' Meeting as soon as possible to plan a coordinated epidemic response. The first meeting of the health ministers of the 20 leading industrialized and emerging economies was in Berlin in May 2017 under the auspices of Germany's presidency of the G20, at which the Berlin Declaration was passed. Subsequent meetings have been held in Argentina in October 2018 and Japan in June 2019. Given the urgency of the current epidemic, it may be a good idea to convene this year's meeting in Saudi Arabia early, online if necessary, to facilitate consultations on a global response to the epidemic.

Should that happen, China needs to be well-prepared to share its experiences of the epidemic with other members of the G20 and the lessons it has learned from its response to the outbreak.

We believe there are five ways to leverage G20 leadership in the global epidemic response.

First, manage the cross-border flow of people in an orderly manner to prevent excessive travel restrictions. Managing the flow of people is the most important part of the global response to the epidemic. China's approach to managing the flow of people has evolved from one of strict and comprehensive control to one of orderly management. In this process, China has accumulated a treasure trove of best practices which can serve as lessons for other countries, such as using different colored QR codes to indicate and track a person's health status, or adopting a township-based, region-specific, multi-level approach to epidemic prevention and control. The World Health Organization expert team has also called on countries to learn and draw from China's experience in this regard. It is necessary for the G20 and the WHO to undertake joint studies to determine the rules for imposing and lifting restrictions on international travel in a way that balances the flow of people and economic activity.

Second, ensure sufficient funding for epidemic prevention and control work as well as liquidity in the global financial market. The G20, the World Bank or other international, multilateral development banks should come together and launch a global epidemic fund, or even several funds. The purpose of the funds should be to provide emergency assistance to developing countries affected by the epidemic, paying special attention to impoverished countries and regions with inadequate public health and medical insurance systems, as well as providing funding to help put in place healthcare systems and build up the stock of protective and essential medical items supplies.

Additionally, central banks can consider taking joint measures such as issuing joint declarations, creating financial safety nets or even undertaking direct interventions in the financial market to calm investor sentiment and prevent financial turbulence if needed. In this process, the International Monetary Fund should closely monitor the foreign exchange markets of vulnerable countries and undertake necessary interventions in the event of irregular fluctuations, so as to prevent the epidemic pushing impoverished countries into a financial crisis.

Third, maintain the international flow of goods and act as a united front against trade protectionism. It is still unknown how much longer the epidemic will continue to spread on a global basis. With temporary delays in logistics at home already taking a toll on the global economy, the effects of a potential worldwide interruption in logistics don't bear thinking about. Potential issues in the supply chain of the healthcare industry or in the shipping of medical supplies would especially exacerbate the situation in the already difficult global fight against the epidemic. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the normal functioning of the logistics and transportation industry provided that epidemic prevention and control requirements are met.

Tariffs should be reduced on emergency supplies. Global tariffs have been on the rise in recent years. The major G20 members should consider reducing all tariffs for the rest of this year, and eliminate tariffs on all emergency medical supplies and humanitarian essentials, so as to ensure the global flow of medical devices and supplies.

Fourth, countries should share information on their epidemic prevention and control work in a joint effort to drive epidemic-related research and development. China has been releasing timely updates on the epidemic and sharing its latest data on the novel coronavirus. Countries should leverage the WHO as a platform to share data on the spread of the epidemic as well as technological updates, so as to enhance cooperation on identifying the source of the virus, learning about its variations, conducting research and development on vaccines and drugs, and anticipating the future trend of the virus. Based on the above, countries should pool financial, human and technological resources in a joint effort to drive breakthroughs in R&D and the subsequent clinical trials.

Fifth, countries should garner political consensus and act in solidarity. Based on the current trend, the novel coronavirus has already become an international public health concern. Viruses know no borders, and no country is immune from the spread of the virus. Particularly, politically unstable regions with frequent military flare-ups face higher risks, as they may become blind spots in epidemic prevention and control efforts. An effective response requires all parties to rise above their conflicts and work toward consensus instead of blaming or attacking each other in an opportunistic manner. Therefore, on the political front, the G20 should call for a cease-fire in all regions in conflict, and provide humanitarian assistance including medical tests and treatment in refugee camps where there is potential risk of infection.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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