World leaders should "persist in unity and cooperation and exert leadership in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," China's top diplomat has urged.

Addressing a meeting of the G20 by videolink, China's State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the concept of multilateralism needs to be treated as more than a "high-minded slogan" and put into practice through strengthening institutions such as the World Health Organization and opening up the global economy.

After the G7 leaders used their meeting earlier this month to level criticisms at Beijing, Wang called on the larger G20 to show leadership and "adhere to win-win cooperation and oppose zero-sum rejection."

The G7, or Group of Seven, includes some of the world's most developed nations such as the U.S., the UK and Japan. The Group of 20 is an expanded gathering of countries, which together account for around 90 percent of the global economy and collaborate closely with multilateral groups such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

With Italy as its chair in 2021, the G20 is focusing its work on three pillars: people, planet and prosperity, aiming to address health challenges, climate change and inequality.

In his speech, Wang set out five points:

* Collaborate in the fight against the pandemic such as sharing, rather than hoarding vaccines.

* Uphold multilateralism and work on areas of common interest.

* Open up economies to allow a global economic recovery to take hold.

* Pursue policies of inclusiveness and sharing to ensure poorer nations do not get left out. 

* Rely on multilateral frameworks to resolve differences and strengthen the institutions that govern the framework.