This archive report was first published on 12 June 2021.
On June 12, 2021, the G7 nations gathered in Carbis Bay, United Kingdom, for their first in-person summit in almost two years. The meeting marked a significant moment in global health policy, as the leaders agreed on a collective plan to prevent future pandemics.
The 'Carbis Bay Declaration' outlines a series of health policy commitments, including slashing the time taken to develop and license vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics for any future disease to under 100 days. The declaration also reinforces global surveillance networks to detect new epidemic and pandemic risks.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the declaration as a 'proud and historic moment' for the world. He stated, 'The #CarbisBayDeclaration marks a proud and historic moment for us all.'
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the health pact, saying, 'The world needs a stronger global surveillance system to detect new epidemic and pandemic risks.'
However, aid charity Oxfam criticized the declaration, stating that it 'does nothing to address the fundamental problems that are preventing vaccines being accessible to the vast majority of humanity.'
The G7 leaders also discussed various other issues, including climate change, foreign policy, and economic cooperation. They pledged to donate one billion vaccine doses to poor countries this year and next, although campaigners say the rollout is much too slow to end the crisis sooner.
US President Joe Biden is expected to press allies to bolster cooperation in dealing with a resurgent China, including confronting its alleged forced labor practices and offering an alternative to its trillion-dollar 'Belt and Road' infrastructure initiative.
China denies allegations that it is waging 'genocide' by forcing up to one million Uyghurs and people from other ethnic-Turkic minorities into internment camps in the region of Xinjiang.
