Leaders of the 20 biggest economies are holding a two-day virtual meeting via video-conference due to the pandemic, under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia, which holds the rotating presidency of the G20 until the end of November.
During the G20 Leaders' Side Event: Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, said: “A global challenge, which is what the pandemic undoubtedly is, can only be overcome with a global effort. The G20 has a crucial responsibility in this area. Each country is striving to find its own responses to the pandemic, as well as to contribute to the necessary worldwide response.”
“For example, we have launched the ACT-Accelerator (ACT-A) and its COVAX facility. This unique global platform serves to promote the development, production and distribution of medicines, diagnostics and vaccines,” Merkel said, adding that 2 billion doses of the vaccine can be fairly distributed by the end of 2021, and that around $5 billion were raised, to which Germany contributed with more than 500 million euros.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte highlighted the need for more healthcare investments across the world, stressing the importance for supporting social as well as environmental resilience, while avoiding more economic slowdown.
The second wave of the pandemic requires firm government decisions, and sacrifices from the nations, he added.
Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez said: “This is not only a responsibility of governments but every one of us, members of the international community, to defeat the pandemic.”
Fernandez indicated that COVID-19 revealed weaknesses of the healthcare systems around the world, urging nations to redefine how “consolidation” can be.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the only effective response to the pandemic is a coordinated global one based on solidarity.
“But an even more difficult fight must be fought — that of universal access to health technologies against COVID-19,” he added.
“We have discussed ACT-A successful initiative, which raised around $10 million since launch,” he noted.
President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, said: “We must work together more closely in solidarity to defeat the coronavirus.”
His country will continue to beef up cooperation with the International Vaccine Institute, headquartered in Seoul, and scale up humanitarian assistance, he said.
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