'UN Health Security Friends Group' to Jointly Speak at Security Council on 12th Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] To strengthen cooperation on health security against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the "UN Health Security Friends Group," launched under South Korea's leadership on the 12th of last month, plans to make a joint statement at the United Nations Security Council next month.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 26th that the Friends Group held an ambassador-level and working-level virtual meeting on the 25th, New York time, to discuss health and security issues as well as activity plans for this year. This group is the first COVID-19-related friends group established at the UN since the outbreak of COVID-19 and serves as a platform to promote discussions within the UN on health security matters, including COVID-19. Five countries, including South Korea, Canada, Denmark, Sierra Leone, and Qatar, serve as co-chairs.

Participants agreed to pursue a joint statement at the Security Council's high-level open debate on "Pandemics and Security," scheduled for the 2nd of next month, as the group's first official activity. The group's ambassadors pre-coordinated a joint statement message emphasizing the need to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in response to COVID-19, which poses a significant threat not only to health but also to international peace and security.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Given that COVID-19 and the resulting health crisis are causing serious challenges to international peace and security, we expect that delivering this message will contribute to raising awareness of the need for an active and prompt response at the UN Security Council level."

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