Draghi Urges "Ending Vaccine Inequality" in G20 Welcome Speech

Vaccine Coverage: 70% in Developed Countries VS 3% in Developing Countries... Morally Unacceptable

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy, the chair country of the Group of Twenty (G20) summit, emphasized the spirit of multilateralism to address global issues in his welcoming speech and called for resolving COVID-19 vaccine inequality.

On the 30th (local time), Italy's Prime Minister Draghi stated, "The only solution to the problems facing the global community can only be multilateralism," adding, "We must revive the spirit that led to the establishment of the G20."

He pointed to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as an area urgently requiring collective response through multilateralism, noting, "Due to inequality in vaccine distribution, more than 70% of the population in developed countries have received at least one dose, whereas the vaccination rate in developing countries is only 3%."

He further stated, "Such disparities are morally unacceptable and also hinder the global economic recovery after the pandemic."

At the first session on 'International Economy and Health' held on the first day of the G20 summit, the issue of COVID-19 vaccine inequality was mainly discussed.

Leaders reportedly engaged in in-depth discussions on a plan to ensure that 40% of the global population is vaccinated by the end of this year and 70% by mid-next year, in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) targets.

To support developing countries in overcoming the pandemic crisis, proposals to increase the supply of vaccines and essential medical supplies, as well as to establish a 'task force' to prevent future global viral pandemics, were also reportedly considered.

Earlier, G20 finance and health ministers reportedly reached a provisional agreement on these agendas at a joint meeting held the previous day, according to foreign media reports.

On the final day of the G20 summit, the 31st, agendas related to climate change and environment (Session 2) and sustainable development (Session 3), considered the biggest issues, are scheduled to be discussed.