TOKYO: Health ministers from the Group of Seven major industrial countries said Friday they will work together to promote the distribution of vaccines against the novel coronavirus globally including developing nations.

“We emphasize the importance of promoting and monitoring equitable global access to safe, effective, quality and affordable vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics,” the ministers said in a joint statement after a two-day meeting in London.

They said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for even greater international collaboration and coordination to enable the swift and equitable set up and implementation of scientifically rigorous, adequately powered therapeutic and vaccines clinical trials during this pandemic.”

The ministers said they will share the results of clinical trials based on the G7 Therapeutics and Vaccines Clinical Trials Charter, which sets out the group’s shared principles to accelerate the speed with which clinical trials generate robust evidence.

The G7 ministers also agreed to strengthen the role of the World Health Organization.

Japanese State Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Hiroshi Yamamoto attended the meeting online.

JIJI Press