(Unofficial Translation)

Your Excellencies, President Biden and other heads of state and government,

I welcome the convening of the Virtual Global COVID-19 Summit. I’d like to express my respect for the leadership of President Biden, who is spearheading international solidarity and cooperation to help overcome COVID-19.

Even though this coronavirus has brought humanity into a state of crisis, we are showing more concern for one another’s safety than at any time before, banding together and seeking warmhearted, creative ways to recover and build back better. Korea will always work together with the international community. The Korean people will also actively join efforts to make the lives of humanity safer. Korea serves as a pillar of the global vaccine hub. We have committed to US$200 million in donations for COVAX and are contract manufacturing four different types of vaccines based on the KORUS Global Vaccine Partnership. By providing more vaccine supplies and support, we will help to surmount COVID-19.

Korea will take the lead in inclusive health cooperation and will also actively participate in discussions with the United Nations and the World Health Organization to improve the global health security system. To date, we have provided 125 countries with epidemic prevention and control supplies and shared our experience responding to COVID-19.

In various socio-economic fields like education and jobs, Korea provides assistance to developing countries. We will join efforts for an inclusive recovery by continuously expanding our official development assistance and will do all we can to help developing countries enhance their healthcare capacities in all facets.  

Distinguished heads of state and government,  

Building back better is recovering together. We are confirming how closely people, as well as countries, are interconnected. We will always stand together with humanity’s joint efforts – beyond surmounting COVID-19 – to move toward a better world.

Thank you.