Malaysia to emphasise importance of accessible, affordable COVID-19 vaccine at UNGASS

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will emphasise the importance of ensuring a vaccine that is accessible, equitable, and affordable at the 31st Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly (31st UNGASS) in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic tomorrow.

In a statement, Wisma Putra said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein will deliver Malaysia’s statement at the assembly via a prerecorded video statement, during which he would also reiterate Malaysia’s call for global solidarity to effectively mitigate the health, economic and social crises caused by the pandemic.

“He will also highlight that it is not only a global responsibility but also a moral responsibility for the vaccine to be shared, once available,” it said.

The Special Session, which was proposed by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), will be held on Dec 3 and 4 (New York time).

It is expected to gather the United Nations (UN) member states, non-member observer state, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, academic institutions and the private sector to reaffirm global solidarity and strengthen multilateral efforts to best address the challenges brought by the pandemic.

The Session also aims to coordinate the international pandemic response.

The opening segment of the Special Session will include statements by the President of the 75th UN General Assembly Mr Volkan Bozkir, UN Secretary-General Mr António Guterres and President Ilham Aliyez of Azerbaijan as the Chair of NAM.

Other speakers that are slotted to deliver a statement at the opening segment will include the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the President of the Security Council for the month of December 2020 (South Africa).

-- BERNAMA