So far, the export-driven country has shown little interest in significantly boosting expenditures, arguing fiscal stimulus cannot bolster foreign demand. On climate change, differences of opinion in the Saudi capital were starker. The Saudi delegation, which is hosting the event, did not show much enthusiasm for it either, according to two of them. Delegates on Saturday heard a warning from the IMF that the COVID-19 outbreak would dent global growth. The outbreak will shave about 0.1 percentage points from global growth and constrain China’s growth to 5.6 percent this year, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said.

Source: Taipei Times February 23, 2020 15:56 UTC