G-20 VOWS FAIR ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINES

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies pledged Monday to do their utmost to ensure all nations have fair access to COVID-19 vaccines when they are developed and to cushion the global economy from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kyodo News reported that the G-20 countries will "spare no effort" to ensure "affordable and equitable access" to COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines for everyone, the leaders said in a declaration released after their two-day virtual meeting chaired by Saudi Arabia.

The leaders said they "stand united in our conviction that coordinated global action, solidarity, and multilateral cooperation are more necessary today than ever to overcome the current challenges."

While the world economy is partially picking up, its recovery from the slump caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic remains "uneven, highly uncertain and subject to elevated downside risks," the G-20 leaders said, touching on renewed outbreaks in some economies.

"We underscore the urgent need to bring the spread of the virus under control, which is key to supporting global economic recovery. We are determined to continue to use all available policy tools as long as required to safeguard people's lives, jobs and incomes," the leaders said.

During the summit, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga emphasized the importance of guaranteeing universal access by supplying treatment drugs and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, through a system to manage global patents, according to a senior official.

An international framework to manage patents "would contribute to a large supply of COVID-19 drugs at an affordable cost for all countries and G-20 support is vital," Suga was quoted as saying by the official.

He also reiterated his commitment to make Japan carbon neutral by 2050, as he pledged in his first policy speech in parliament last month, according to the official.

"We need to adjust our mindset to a paradigm shift in which proactive climate change measures bring about the transformation of industrial structures as well as our economy and society, leading to dynamic economic growth," the official quoted Suga as saying.