The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, participated today by videoconference in the ministerial meeting on the response to Covid-19 (“Covid-19 Ministerial”), convened by the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, as a follow-up to the “Covid-19 Summit” hosted by President Biden on the sidelines of the 76th UN General Assembly.
The meeting facilitated discussion and sharing of concrete proposals to address the pandemic and strengthen the global health architecture.
In his address to the session “Accelerating towards Vaccine Equity and Impact: Vaccine Principles and expanding global vaccine manufacturing”, Minister Di Maio recalled the results achieved at the G20 Summit in Rome and reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to supporting the multilateral response to the pandemic, with a contribution of €385 million to the Covax Facility, aiming to donate 45 million doses to low- and middle-income countries.
We must aim,” Minister Di Maio recalled, referring to the G20 Leaders’ Rome Declaration, “to vaccinate 70% of the world’s population by mid-2022. A goal that requires greater efforts to increase supply and strengthen delivery and absorption capacities”.
In this regard, the Minister indicated three operational dimensions on which to work, also intending to prevent and prepare for future health emergencies: increasing production capacity at the regional level, particularly in Africa; strengthening national health systems and the multilateral health architecture, with the support of the World Health Organisation; and mobilising adequate and sustainable funding, also through a closer connection between the G20 countries, the WHO and the International Financial Institutions.
