Boris Johnson to ask G7 leaders for joint vaccine distribution

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urge world leaders to cooperate against the pandemic coronavirus by leading next Friday the first meeting of leaders of the G7, a group made up – in addition to the United Kingdom – of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy and Japan.

According to a statement released by his office, the Conservative leader will say that governments have a “responsibility to work together” to “make the best possible use” of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure that they are distributed equitably among people. country.

At the virtual meeting – the first multilateral meeting of the President of the United States, Joe Biden – Johnson will ask put an end to the “nationalist and conflicting” policies which marked the beginning of the pandemictakes note of the note.

The Prime Minister will argue that Prioritizing citizens themselves in the fight against the virus does not necessarily have to hurt a “unified response” because no country will be safe until everyone is safe with a good vaccination.said the statement.

“The leaps and bounds of science have given us the vaccines we need to end this pandemic once and for all. Now governments around the world have a responsibility to work together to make the best use of these vaccinesJohnson says in the text.

Under the annual UK presidency, the G7, a group of the most developed economies, will also work to promote a common approach to future pandemics, based on a five-point plan already presented to the United Nations. This plan includes develop a global research network and manufacturing capacity for vaccines and treatments, design a pandemic alert system, agree on protocols for health emergencies and eliminate trade barriers.

After the Group of Seven finance ministers held a preparatory meeting on Friday, the February 19 appointment will mark the first time that the heads of state and government of those countries have met since April 2020.

Besides Johnson and Biden, the leaders of Germany, Canada, France, Italy and Japan will be in attendance, as well as the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, Downing Street said. The event is part of the meetings taking place before, from October 11-13, the UK is chairing the annual G7 summit scheduled in the town of Saint Yves in Cornwall (in the south-west of England).

At the same time, the United Kingdom, which holds the monthly presidency of the United Nations Security Council in February, will conduct a telematic meeting with the members of this group on the 23rd during which the relationship between conflict and climate change will be discussed.

(With information from EFE and Europa Press)

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