“One Earth, One Health,” was the cornerstone of prime minister Narendra Modi’s address to the G7 virtual summit in Cornwall on Saturday.
The prime minister was participating in the “Building Back Stronger-Health” session, the first OutReach Session of the G7 Summit, which focussed on global recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic and on strengthening measures against future pandemics.
Modi, taking to twitter, expressed appreciation for the support extended by the G7 and other guest countries during the recent wave of Covid-19 in India.
“Today’s meeting should send out a message of “One Earth One Health” for the whole world and call for global unity, leadership, and solidarity to prevent future pandemics”, said Prime Minister as he stressed the special responsibility of democratic and transparent societies on the matter.
During the session, PM Modi highlighted India’s ‘whole of society’ approach to fight the pandemic, synergising the efforts of all levels of the government, industry and civil society. He also explained India’s successful use of open-source digital tools for contact tracing and vaccine management and conveyed India’s willingness to share its experience and expertise with other developing countries.
Prime Minister further committed India’s support for collective endeavours to improve global health governance. He sought the G7’s support for the proposal moved at the WTO by India and South Africa, for a TRIPS waiver on COVID related technologies. PM advised the USA to keep raw material supplies open. PM Modi will participate in the final day of the G7 Summit on Sunday and will speak in two sessions.
India’s emphasis on keeping open supply chains for vaccine raw materials and components to help enhance vaccine production in countries like India received widespread support.
G7 leaders reiterate PM’s remark
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel specifically referred to PM Modi’s mantra and conveyed strong support.
- Australian PM Scott Morrison referred to his discussions with PM Modi earlier about TRIPS waiver and conveyed strong support of Australia.
- French President Emmanuel Macron called for raw material supplies to vaccine producers like India to ensure large scale vaccine production for the whole world.
