国际英语新闻:Argentina urges greater integration at G20 to tackle pandemic challenges

BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The president of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, on Saturday called for greater global integration to tackle the challenges caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

"The world is moving towards alarming levels of inequality" due to the economic impact of the pandemic and lockdown measures, Fernandez told a Group of 20 (G20) leaders' summit via video link.

While the wealth gap between nations and people existed, "the pandemic revealed this inequality, which we must attack in order to live in a more just world," Fernandez said.

He recalled that at an extraordinary summit of G20 leaders convened on March 26 to discuss the pandemic, he proposed a global solidarity pact and the creation of a Global Humanitarian Emergency Fund.

"I see with satisfaction that this (proposal) is sustained, as well as the possibility of guaranteeing access to vaccines for all humanity," he said.

"We need the world to expand financially, and for this financial expansion to reach countries like Argentina to be able to address the imbalances the pandemic has generated in our economy," he said, noting his government spent significantly to ensure access to healthcare during the outbreak.

The G20 leaders' summit, which concludes on Sunday, was organized by Saudi Arabia, the country that currently holds the rotating presidency of the group.