Moon stresses Korea's role as 'vaccine hub' in talks with G7 leaders

President Moon Jae-in, front row second from right, poses with leaders participating in the G7 Summit, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, front row center, and U.S. President Joe Biden, front row right, at the Carbis Bay Hotel in Cornwall, U.K., Saturday (local time). Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye, Joint Press Corps

President Moon Jae-in has stressed Korea's willingness to become a new global hub for COVID-19 vaccine production during his talks with leaders attending the G7 Summit, raising the need for equitable access to inoculation throughout the world to overcome the public health crisis together.

President Moon held talks with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Saturday (local time), on the sidelines of the summit, which had opened the previous day in Cornwall, U.K., emphasizing that expanding vaccinations has become more important than carrying out antivirus measures.

"It is necessary to supply vaccines stably and fairly to developing countries," Moon was quoted as saying by presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. "Europe's capability of developing vaccines should be combined with Korea's production capacity to expand vaccine production. Korea will faithfully fulfill its role as a global vaccine hub."

While attending an expanded session on health at the G7 Summit, Moon said Korea will seek to form partnerships with G7 countries in vaccine cooperation, as it did so with the Unites States, to contribute to the expansion of the vaccine supply around the world. Moon and U.S. President Joe Biden had agreed to establish a comprehensive global vaccine partnership during their summit talks held in Washington, D.C., in May.

During the G7 Summit, Moon also unveiled plans to help developing countries secure COVID-19 vaccines, vowing to offer $100 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) this year.

The COVAX AMC is a financing mechanism aimed at providing doses to less-developed economies.

Moon noted that Korea will provide additional cash or materials worth $100 million next year.

Earlier in the day, Moon met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the summit, agreeing to work together to produce vaccines and expand supply.

"Germany is an advanced country in terms of vaccine development, while Korea has its strength in vaccine production. The two countries' cooperation will make it possible for vaccines to be supplied throughout the world more stably and fairly," Moon was quoted as saying by Park.

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In response, Merkel said she would consult with German companies that possess mRNA technology, according to the spokesperson.

Currently, Korean pharmaceutical companies do not have the capacity to produce mRNA vaccines like those of Moderna and Pfizer.

President Moon Jae-in exchanges an elbow-bump greeting with AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot ahead of their talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Cornwall, U.K., Saturday (local time). Yonhap

Moon also had talks with Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, reaffirming the importance of continued cooperation.

During the talks, Moon said AstraZeneca's vaccines meant a great deal to his country as they were the first and the most administered doses to Korean people.

The President also stressed the fact that SK Bioscience, a Korean pharmaceutical company, has produced the Cambridge-based company's vaccine at its factory in Korea under a consignment contract.

"This served as an important opportunity for Korea to take a leap forward in becoming a global vaccine production hub," Moon said. "Korea will continue to cooperate actively in resolving the vaccine supply shortage. I hope AstraZeneca will also continue to utilize Korea's production capacity for a stable supply."

During his bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Moon agreed to broaden bilateral economic cooperation and elevate their relationship to a "comprehensive partnership."

President Moon Jae-in holds bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Cornwall, U.K., Saturday (local time). Yonhap

On Sunday, Moon met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during which the two shared the need for equitable access to inoculation around the world to overcome the prolonged pandemic and agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

Moon also held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron later in the day, vowing to enhance cooperation in diverse areas including semiconductors and electric vehicles as well as health and energy.

Despite multiple official meetings and pull-asides taking place among leaders, Moon and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga did not sit face to face, but only "exchanged greetings" briefly, spokeswoman Park said. It was their first face-to-face encounter since Suga took office last September.

There was anticipation that Moon and Suga could meet on the sidelines of the G7 event in an effort to improve strained bilateral relations, which have been at the lowest level in years amid multiple historical and territorial disputes.

Moon also encountered U.S. President Biden at the summit venue, during which time Moon expressed his gratitude to the U.S. for offering Janssen's COVID-19 vaccines to Korea, according to Park.