Secretary Locsin to Ministers of G77, China: ‘Only weapon against the pandemic is global vaccination’
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. stressed that rich countries, multilateral money institutions, and global organizations must ensure that low and middle-income countries have equitable access to affordable vaccines at the 45th Group of 77 Ministerial Meeting (Photo from New York PM)
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 06 December 2021 - At the 45th Annual Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (G77) and China held virtually on 30 November 2021, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. told Ministers that “the only weapon against the pandemic is global vaccination.”
Secretary Locsin reaffirmed the Philippines’ “unwavering support for the WHO, its COVAX Facility and the COVAX Advance Market Commitment” noting that “my President is giving U$ 1 million dollars to COVAX.”
Secretary Locsin reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to work with G77 and China, the group of 134 developing countries and the largest negotiating bloc in the United Nations, on ensuring vaccine equity and called for stronger global mechanisms to end delays in the production and distribution of vaccines.
The Secretary also outlined the Philippines’ socio-economic priorities and reaffirmed the country’s commitment on the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of migrants, climate action, disaster risk reduction, protection of biodiversity and strengthened support for middle-income countries.
Secretary Locsin said that, as a Global Compact for Migration (GCM) Champion country, with its people living and working in most countries of the world, the Philippines will stay at the forefront of the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare of migrants wherever they may be.
“Legal or illegal, they are our people; we will not forgive their maltreatment. They are a godsend to their countries of origin, transit, and destination. Therefore, include them in national COVID responses,” Secretary Locsin stressed.
Echoing the need for urgent global climate action, the Secretary also informed the meeting that the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) shows the country’s strong commitment to 75% greenhouse gas emissions reduction and avoidance by 2030. He reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the successful adoption of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
He thanked the G77 and China for their solidarity with middle-income countries and conveyed to the group that the Philippines, a middle-income country, will follow-through the mapping exercise to be conducted by the UN system for a clear overview of support to middle-income countries.
At the same Ministerial Meeting, the Ministers also adopted the 2021 G77 and China Ministerial Declaration and welcomed Pakistan as the incoming Chair of the Group for 2022 from the Asia Pacific Group.
President of the General Assembly Abdulla Shahid highlighted the Group of 77 and China as a leading voice on the multilateral stage since its inception in 1964 and that the voices of developing countries are needed, now more than ever.
Secretary-General Antόnio Guterres stressed that the Group of 77 and China is a steadfast supporter of multilateralism and the United Nations and its founding principles of unity, complementarity, cooperation and solidarity are especially relevant in these times of crisis. He recognized the Group as a leader in placing development at the center of the UN agenda.
The G77 and China remains the country’s strategic partner in advancing Philippine interests in the UN on various issues such as among others, the global response to the COVID19 pandemic, migrants, health, food security, education, middle-income countries, climate action, biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, financial inclusion and south-south cooperation. END
For more information, visit https://www.un.int/philippines/ and https://web.facebook.com/PHMissionNY