Minister Kang Kyung-hwa Attends '2020 Global Vaccine Summit'... Pledges $30 Million Support by 2025

Global Vaccine Immunity Alliance Expresses Commitment to Expanding Contributions to Vaccine Distribution Efforts

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 5th that Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended the '2020 Global Vaccine Summit' held via video conference on the 4th.

This meeting was held with the goal of raising at least 7.4 billion dollars in funding for the 2021?2025 projects of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

The 2020 Global Vaccine Summit, hosted by the UK government, was attended by heads of state from over 30 countries including South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United States, Norway, Australia, China, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, as well as ministers and representatives from the United Nations, the World Health Organization [WHO], and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Participants emphasized the need for equitable access to vaccines as a global public good and expressed their commitment to contributing to Gavi. Through this summit, Gavi secured pledges exceeding the initial target of 7.4 billion dollars, reaching 8.8 billion dollars, and launched the COVID-19 vaccine-related advance market commitment mechanism (Covax AMC).

Minister Kang highlighted the importance of international solidarity and cooperation for vaccine development and distribution amid the global spread of COVID-19, and expressed South Korea’s commitment, as the first Asian donor country, to contribute a total of 30 million dollars to Gavi by 2025, having supported it since 2010. She also introduced South Korea’s leading efforts such as sharing experiences and knowledge related to COVID-19 response and the launch of the ‘Friends Group.’

A Foreign Ministry official explained, "The government will actively participate in international cooperation to overcome COVID-19, support the development and distribution activities of vaccines and therapeutics by health-related organizations including Gavi, and continue to contribute to global health promotion."