Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Roberto Gualtieri said the outlook for the global economy was "less pessimistic" than most forecasts predict, Trend reports citing Xinhua.
A statement released by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance Tuesday said Gualtieri's remarks, which did not include specifics, came after a virtual meeting between Gualtieri and his counterparts in the Group of Seven (G-7) countries that was called to coordinate the members' response to the global coronavirus outbreak.
It came despite global economic tensions, not only tied to the coronavirus pandemic, but also to a worldwide economic slowdown, and an increase in violence, extremism, and political instability in some parts of the world.
Gualtieri, a historian and academic, took the reins of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance last year in the second government led by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
Gualtieri also said the G-7 was "committed" to the mass production and distribution of coronavirus vaccines "on a vast scale" once they are developed. The countries will also continue to support developing countries in their battle against the spread of the virus.