Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga today, on Saturday called for world solidarity in the fight against the novel coronavirus as he delivered his first address to the U.N. General Assembly via prerecorded video statement in his debut at an international forum, Kyodo reported. Even with supply chain disruptions and other cross-border restrictions caused by the virus pandemic, Suga underscored the significance of multilateralism and free trade, and vowed to promote World Trade Organization reform and free trade agreements with other countries. "The novel coronavirus disease has pulled us into an unprecedented crisis, which in turn has brought the international community back to cooperation from its tendencies towards division and isolation," he said. "I call on all of you to unite in solidarity so we can turn the current crisis into an opportunity to reinforce our cooperation," he added. Given the global pandemic of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, the United Nations' 193 member states decided to allow prerecorded video statements for the general debate and other events such as a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the world body in New York. With reviving the economy resting on the safe movement of people, Suga said in his statement that Japan will make its best efforts to ensure universal distribution of vaccines and therapeutics. "Japan fully supports the development of therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics, and works toward ensuring fair and equitable access for all, including those in developing countries," he said, while advocating reform of the World Health Organization. Suga said that to prepare for future health crises, Japan is committed to expanding efforts in developing countries to build hospitals and strengthen their health and medical systems through providing equipment and supporting human resources development.
