EU, Japan call for solidarity, cooperation and multilateralism to defeat coronavirus

BRUSSELS - The leaders of the European Union and Japan said on Tuesday that global solidarity, cooperation, and effective multilateralism are required to defeat the coronavirus.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan held a video meeting on Tuesday.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to global collaboration and sustained funding for developing and deploying effective antiviral medicines, diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines in order to make them available to all at an affordable price. They called for the future COVID-19 vaccine to become a global common good.

They underlined the importance of keeping the trading system open, saying both sides will cooperate to facilitate the flow of medical supplies, agricultural products, raw materials, and other goods and services across borders. They also called for refraining from unnecessary travel and export restrictions.