Apec leaders pledge to ramp up production and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines

Leaders vow to ‘redouble our efforts to expand vaccine manufacture and supply’ but meeting produced few specific commitments

Talks brought together heads of state from the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group, including Joe Biden and Xi Jinping

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New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (second from right) chairing the Apec 2021 Informal Leaders' Retreat alongside Apec officials in Wellington. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:24am, 17 Jul 2021Updated: 1:35am, 17 Jul 2021

Pacific Rim leaders vowed to ramp up the production and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines Friday at an emergency virtual meeting to develop an action plan that will contain the global pandemic.

The unprecedented talks brought together heads of state from the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) group, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who convened the online summit at short notice, described discussions as “rich”, saying they set a strong agenda for Apec’s major leaders’ meeting in November.

“For the first time in Apec’s history, leaders have come together for an extraordinary meeting focused exclusively on Covid-19 and how our region can navigate out of the worst health and economic crisis in living memory,” she said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the discussions at the Informal Leaders‘ Retreat virtual conference were “rich”, and set a strong agenda for Apec’s major leaders’ meeting in November. Photo: AP

“Front of mind for leaders is achieving widespread access for vaccines globally and working collaboratively to provide them to everyone as soon as possible.”