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Heads of State and Government of the G7 at the group picture
Photo: PATRICK SEMANSKY / AFP
The seven most important industrialized countries agreed at their summit in Cornwall, UK, to provide poorer countries with a billion doses of vaccine in the fight against Corona.
The final communiqué states that there are commitments for over 870 million vaccine doses, which are to be delivered to the countries most in need as quickly as possible and halfway by the end of the year, mainly via the international vaccination platform Covax.
Since the virtual G7 meeting in February, billions in financial commitments to buy vaccine doses have also been made, it said.
With the direct donations and financial commitments, according to the final declaration, more than two billion vaccine doses of the G7 have been collected for distribution since the beginning of the pandemic.
In some cases, however, these are batches that have long been planned within the international vaccination initiatives Covax and Gavi.
The day before, Chancellor Angela Merkel had spoken of 2.3 billion vaccine doses that should go to poor countries.
According to her, Germany is responsible for the distribution of 350 million cans.
This included 30 million cans that the Federal Republic has ordered and will pass on.
"That will probably increase over time," said Merkel.
She referred to delivery problems of the vaccine manufacturers.
US President Joe Biden had announced a US vaccine donation of 500 million doses shortly before the G7 summit.
London wants to contribute 100 million cans.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to double the country's vaccine donations.
Since the rich countries have bought the market short and India has imposed an export ban due to the bad wave of infections in its own country, the international vaccination platform Covax can probably not get enough vaccines to distribute to poor countries despite the financial commitments made.
As of Sunday, the platform had only delivered 83 million vaccine doses to 131 countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers eleven billion doses to be necessary.
Higher taxes, more means to combat climate change
Merkel has made progress in relation to the USA.
“With the election of Joe Biden as American president, the world is no longer problematic.
But we can work with renewed vigor to solve these problems, ”said Merkel, who had already met Biden on Saturday to exchange ideas.
The US President will also receive the Chancellor on July 15 for a visit to the White House.
Overall, the Chancellor drew a positive conclusion from the three-day G7 talks.
The atmosphere during the discussions was very cooperative and characterized by mutual interest.
The group agreed on an early further investigation into the origin of the coronavirus, which the WHO should undertake.
Poor countries are also to be supported with an annual amount of 100 billion euros in the fight against climate change.
The national economies should be supported "as long as necessary," according to the final declaration.
The focus moves "from the crisis response to the promotion of growth for the future."
The global minimum corporate tax of 15 percent recently passed by the G7 finance ministers was approved by the heads of state and government.
A fair tax system is necessary, it says in the final declaration.
Hopefully a breakthrough will be achieved at G20 level in July.
Clear criticism of China and Russia
In order to counter China's growing influence in the world, Western development aid should also be strengthened and better coordinated.
The heads of state and government clearly distinguished themselves from both the People's Republic and Russia and sharply criticized the behavior of both countries.
For example, they denounced the Chinese "human rights violations" in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
Russia, for its part, must end its "destabilizing behavior" and stop attacks on opposition members.
sbo / AFP / dpa / Reuters /