Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard attended the Coronavirus Global Response Summit today on behalf of the Mexican government. The summit was organized by the United Nations, the European Union, the European Council and the World Health Organization. Foreign Secretary Ebrard was the only Latin American participant. The meeting was held to begin a global campaign of collaboration on the accelerated development, production and equal universal deployment of new health technologies for COVID-19.

The participants agreed on three needs: first, multilateral coordination between countries, the private sector and other actors; second, mobilization of the financial resources needed to achieve the goal; and third, equitable and universal channels for the distribution of medical supplies.

Several agreements were adopted, including the following operating principles: a renewable two-year term to define the goals, the use of existing institutions, multilateral coordination adapted to regional needs, and accountability for the governments involved.

The event brought together more than 50 nations, in addition to multilateral coalitions, social organizations and pharmaceutical companies. The co-promoters of the event were:

  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel
  • French President Emmanuel Macron
  • Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō
  • Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg
  • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
  • Itialian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
  • United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson
  • Saudi Arabian Health Minister Tawfig bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah
  • In addition to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Co-President Melinda Gates.

The event expanded and followed up on the April 24 call to action for private associations, vaccine preparation coalitions and the World Health Organization to find and equitably distribute the medical supplies needed to combat the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. The event signaled the start of the campaign and a call went out to expand the commitment to more countries around the world. 7.5 billion euros were pledged, and the organizational framework within which the members will operate was established.

The Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of the Foreign Ministry, Martha Delgado, announced that Mexico was joining the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in order to participate in the development, production and distribution of ta COVID-19 vaccination.

CEPI is a global coalition based in Norway, whose goal is to develop, distribute and store vaccines for new viruses and to combat epidemics. It brings together public, private, philanthropic and civil society organizations from around the world.  Its work follows the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

By signing the commitment to the global coronavirus response and joining CEPI, Mexico reaffirms its firm commitment to multilateral actions for resolving the most urgent global challenges.  In addition, Mexico has renewed its leadership in the multilateral arena by promoting a United Nations resolution to ensure universal and equitable access to vaccines and medicines. To date, Mexico is the only Latin American country to participate in this coalition, and we are called to urge the rest of the countries in the region to join.

The Foreign Ministry's actions have fully committed Mexico to the global pledge to combat COVID-19. At the center of our actions is a focus on the benefits the Mexican people can receive from the global agreements to combat the pandemic.