G7 "Donate 1 Billion COVID-19 Vaccine Doses... China Must Respect Hong Kong and Xinjiang" (Summary)

Clear Criticism Directed at China
"Need for a Fair Tax System... Will Increase International Climate Change Fund"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eun-byeol] The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) have reportedly agreed to donate more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines. They also urged China to respect human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region, and called for a second-phase investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

According to the final version of the G7 summit joint communiqu? obtained by Bloomberg on the 13th (local time), the G7 leaders agreed to provide at least 1 billion additional vaccine doses next year. Including the 1 billion additional doses agreed upon, the total donation of COVID-19 vaccines since the early stages of the pandemic will reach 2 billion doses.

The G7 leaders also called for a second-phase investigation into the origins of COVID-19 led by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the statement, the leaders said, "We demand a timely, transparent, expert-led, science-based, and WHO-convened second-phase investigation into the origins of COVID-19." They specifically mentioned that this investigation "should include work conducted in China as recommended by experts in their report."

Regarding China, they pressured the country to guarantee human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Bloomberg reported that the G7 communiqu? mentioned China’s human rights and Hong Kong issues. This is the first time G7 leaders have voiced such clear criticism of China.

Concerning Russia, they requested an end to destabilizing and malicious activities, including interference in other countries’ democratic systems. The G7 heads of state reaffirmed "the demand that Russia understand its international human rights obligations and commitments," and stated that they "will work to maintain stable and predictable relations with Russia."

They also advocated for a fair global tax system. The G7 leaders are expected to express support for a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% and for multinational corporations with profit margins exceeding 10% to pay taxes in the countries where they earn their income. This elevates the agreement reached by G7 finance ministers on the 5th to a higher level with the leaders’ endorsement. The statement mentioned, "We look forward to reaching an agreement at the upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) finance ministers and central bank governors meeting next month."

Meanwhile, the G7 reaffirmed their commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. The communiqu? stated that the G7 "will strive to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050."

They also reaffirmed the goal of mobilizing $100 billion annually from public and private resources by 2025 (approximately 112 trillion KRW), and pledged to increase and improve their overall international climate finance contributions during this period, urging other advanced countries to join these efforts and increase their contributions." Previously, advanced countries including the G7 and the European Union (EU) pledged at the 2009 Copenhagen Accord to increase climate change support funding for developing countries to $100 billion annually.

Subsequently, advanced countries reaffirmed this commitment at the 2015 Paris Agreement and stated that they would provide more than $100 billion annually by 2025 and discuss significantly increasing contributions thereafter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.