Saudi Arabia has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal for a G20 summit via video conference to deal with coronavirus crisis next week. Saudi Arabia is the chair of the G20 this year and will be taking all calls regarding the summit.

The G20 secretariat in Riyadh said in a press release,"The Saudi G20 Presidency is communicating with G20 countries to convene an extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders' Summit next week to advance a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications."

"The Saudi Presidency will continue to support and coordinate international efforts to counter the impact of the pandemic, both inhuman and economic terms," he added.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the two leaders discussed the COVID– 19 pandemic crisis.

During the telephonic talk, PM Modi highlighted theinitiative led by New Delhi to organise a video conference among SAARCcountries on Sunday evening.

"The two leaders agreed that a similar exercise at thelevel of G20 leaders, under the aegis of Saudi Arabia as the Chair of G20,would be useful at a global scale, both for discussing specific measures toaddress the challenges posed by the global outbreak of COVID-19," thegovernment said.

PM Modi has suggested the idea of G20 summit via videoconferencing to other G20 leaders as well. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison over the weekend said,"I'malso aware that (Indian) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to organise alink-up between all the G20 leaders. I think that's a commendable initiative,Australia obviously supports that, communicate that,"

Morrison called for a further meet on G20 finance meeting todeal with the economic impact of the coronavirus.