KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will emphasise the importance of ensuring a coronavirus 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 Hussein will deliver Malaysia’s statement at the assembly via a prerecorded video statement, during which he will 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 until December 4.
It is expected to gather UN member states, non-member observer states, 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 75th UN General Assembly president Mr Volkan Bozkir, UN secretary-general Mr António Guterres and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyez as NAM chair.
Other speakers slotted to deliver a statement at the opening segment will include the UN Economic and Social Council president and Security Council president for the month of December (South Africa). – Bernama, December 2, 2020
