APEC leaders vow to boost equitable access to COVID vaccines, revitalize trade

In a bid to ease the debilitating blow of the pandemic and facilitate strong economic recovery, Asia Pacific leaders have pledged to accelerate equitable access to coronavirus vaccines, promote free and fair trade, and work towards the resumption of cross-border travel.

- GENALYN KABILING

The leaders of the 21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies have firmed up plans for intensified pandemic response and inclusive recovery efforts after recognizing the devastating impact of the pandemic on the region's people and economies during a virtual assembly Friday, July 16.

Among the world leaders present in the online APEC Informal Retreat were United States President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi 8 Jinping, and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The leaders tackled the COVID-19 health and economic crisis and response during the gathering organized by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Our efforts to diagnose and treat COVID-19 continue to be essential. But we will only overcome this health emergency by accelerating equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines, the APEC leaders said in a statement after the assembly.

We recognize the role of extensive immunization against COVID-19 as a global public good. To that end, we will redouble our efforts to expand vaccine manufacture and supply, support global vaccine sharing efforts, and encourage the voluntary transfer of vaccine production technologies on mutually agreed terms, they said.