Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa attended the online COVID-19 Global Action Plan Foreign Ministerial Meeting hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday and spoke of problems concerning access to vaccines.

Hayashi pointed out that challenges remain in ensuring “equitable access” to vaccines throughout the world, and efforts should continue in this area.

He noted Japan’s contribution of $50 million to the newly established Pandemic Fund and support of up to $100 million in order to assist the economic and social revitalization and the resumption of cross-border travel for developing countries.

Hayashi said that global health is one of the priority issues that needs to be addressed at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May. He said the G7 Summit would advance discussion on the issue based on the following three pillars: developing and strengthening global health architecture; contributing to achieving more resilient, equitable, and sustainable universal health coverage; and promoting health innovation. 

Blinken pointed out that the global community remains at risk as long as COVID-19 continues to spread and there was a need “to better prepare to prevent, detect, and respond to future health security threats.”

Those participating in the meeting included A.K. Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh; Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister of Germany; Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organization; and representatives from the European Union and African Union (AU).