High-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response - General Assembly, 81st session

I invite all of you to please take your seat. The meeting will start soon. The High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response is called to order. I warmly welcome all of you to this High-Level Meeting. held in accordance with resolution 79/333 of 5 September 2025, under the overall theme, "Fostering a multilateral and intergenerational approach to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics and public health emergencies through the principles of equity and solidarity." I will now make a statement in my capacity as President of the General Assembly, President of the Economic and Social Council, Excellencies, Madam Deputy Secretary-General, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining this High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. My sincere appreciation to our co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Armenia and Rwanda, as well as to the Director-General and his team at the World Health Organization. Six years have passed since COVID-19 emerged as a global health emergency. In many ways, it feels like a fever dream, flashes of memory of remote work, Zoom calls, and shuttered buildings, all the while managing personal tragedies, a loved one lost, a profound illness, health systems overwhelmed, economies disrupted, classrooms emptied. I remember vividly the morning when my own daughter, a medical doctor, had to leave home to take care of COVID patients in her hospital. Each night, I kept awake with the interminable fear of losing her to the pandemic. Thank God, she came back home after two months, but a few of her patients did not. Sometimes it's easier to pretend that it never happened. And certainly, that sentiment is understandable when we are surrounded, day in and day out, by more and more challenges that consume our attention. But to forget that period and its legacy would be an injustice to those who we lost, as well as a disservice to ourselves and to what we went through collectively as a society. No, we cannot erase COVID-19 from our memories. Quite the opposite. We have to take a hard look at that period, at where we succeeded and where we failed. And that is precisely why the General Assembly three years ago adopted the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, recognizing COVID-19 as one of the greatest global challenges in history of the United Nations and calling for stronger international cooperation to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. Since then, we have made important progress. Last year, Member States adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the strengthened International Health Regulations entered into force, foundations we must now complete and bring into effect. And that is precisely why we are here today: to take stock of progress, identify remaining gaps, and renew our shared resolve. so that when, and not if, when the next pandemic threat emerges, we are able to prevent where possible, prepare fully, and respond decisively. This imperative is not abstract. It is made real by the risks we face today, including the continuing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Outbreaks often emerge and spread where insecurity, displacement and weak health systems intersect. Pandemic prevention, therefore, requires timely, transparent and actionable data, as well as well-trained and well-equipped and adequately supported frontline workers. Here, dear colleagues, Allow me to pay tribute to all our frontline workers, scientists, community responders, women health workers, all of whom carried so much of the response burden during COVID-19 and who carry it still today in the DRC and in health centers and communities across the world. Excellencies, some may argue that pandemics are beyond the remit of this institution. noting that the word itself does not appear in the Charter. Yet that would be a fallacy. The Charter and the United Nations were designed precisely to tackle global challenges for which no single, isolated response can suffice. Pandemics do not respect borders, wealth, or military power. They don't need passports or visas to cross boundaries. Viruses do not recognize national income or geopolitical status. Indeed, our interconnected world has made it easier for infectious diseases to emerge, spread, and take hold. What once took months or years to cross oceans can now reach another continent in a matter of hours, mutating, shifting, and evading health systems before it is detected and contained. That is why coordination matters. Multilateralism matters. But if our interconnected world increases the speed and scale at which diseases can spread, then we must use that same interconnectedness to stop it by sharing knowledge and data, leveraging expertise across borders, harnessing new technologies, and coordinating health responses where they are needed most. Because no country can contain every threat alone. Helping countries detect outbreaks early, contain them quickly, and protecting those most at risk is more than an act of solidarity. It is an act of enlightened self-interest and collective self-preservation. This means ensuring equitable and timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other medical supplies. It means strengthening health systems, particularly in developing countries, so that they can detect disease, share data, deliver care, and sustain essential services during crisis. It means closing persistent financial gaps to empower people and communities, particularly those in special circumstances and countries facing structural constraints. And it means making responsible use of new and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, including artificial general intelligence, to analyze epidemiological data, strengthen surveillance, and identify threats before they spiral out of control. The high-level meeting on universal health coverage next year offers an opportunity to build on this agenda. It should help us connect pandemic preparedness with the everyday work of building resilient, equitable, and people-centered health systems everywhere. Preparedness cannot be treated as a temporary project activated only in times of crisis. It must be embedded in the health systems people rely on every day. Excellencies, friends, The world has always lived with viruses and with the risk of pandemics. We cannot eliminate that risk entirely, but we can decide how prepared we will be when the next threat emerges. We can detect an outbreak before it becomes an epidemic. We can contain an epidemic before it becomes a pandemic, and we can build health systems strong enough to protect people wherever they live and whatever their circumstances. We have the knowledge, we have the tools, we have the science and expertise, and we have the hard lessons of COVID-19. Let us use them for ourselves, our families, our loved ones, and also in memory of those we lost and in recognition of all those who suffered and served. The greatest tribute we can pay to COVID-19 experience is to learn from it and to ensure that when the next threat comes, we, the world, is ready. I thank you. I have the honor now to invite His Excellency Amar Benjema, President of the Economic and Social Council, to make a statement. You have the floor, my friend.

Thank you, Mr. President of the General Assembly. Madam Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Director-General of the World Health Organization, Ms. Helen Clark, Excellencies and dear colleagues, as President of the ECOSOC, I am pleased to address this high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. We gather at a time when health emergencies are increasing in frequency in complexity and unfortunately in impact. From Ebola outbreaks to COVID-19 and emergency infectious disease, the message is clear. Pandemics and health emergencies remain among the greatest challenges to sustainable development. This high-level meeting is therefore timely and necessary. And today, through the political declaration, member states reaffirmed that determination to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, and to translate our political commitments into concrete actions. The experience of COVID-19 left the world with many, many painful lessons. Perhaps the most important one is that no Member State can protect itself alone. And the international community has made important progress in recent years. For example, the amendments to the International Health Regulations have strengthened the global framework for preparedness and response. The WHO Pandemic Agreement is a significant achievement in multilateral cooperation. And negotiation on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Annex are a critical opportunity to operationalize equitable access and trust. It is then important that we maintain the political momentum. I encourage all Member States to fully implement, fully implement the International Health Regulations, to prioritize the completion and adoption of the PABS annex as a necessary step towards the entry into force of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, who is an important instrument for strengthening global pandemic prevention and preparedness. Excellencies, dear friends, Pandemic preparedness is crucial for advancing the 2030 agenda. It can advance progress across SDGs. It can reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities. This call for integrated and adequately financed action with equity and sustained investment in resilient health system, in technology access, in prevention and early warning. In this regard, ECOSOC has a critical role to play in bringing together member states, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders to strengthen policy coherence and coordinated action in this area. The Council can also help ensure that pandemic prevention, preparedness and response are effectively integrated into global efforts. to achieve sustainable development, to enhance resilience to future health crisis. Let us therefore move forward with renewed political commitment, political commitment for stronger multilateralism and genuine solidarity. I thank you.

I thank the President of the Economic and Social Council. Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, is with us this morning. I invite you, Madam, to make a statement.

Thank you, Excellency Mr. Khalilul Huur Rahman, President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Amar Ben Shamma, the President of Economic and Social Council, Her Excellency Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and the co-chair of the IPPR, and my brother, Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. Thank you, everyone, for bringing the solidarity and the energy into this room today. To remember those we lost is to be present in the effort to ensure that we are prepared for the next time. I'm pleased to represent the SG at this crucial high-level event on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response and to read this message from him. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, this high-level meeting speaks to a critical need, the need for a global approach to pandemic threats, one built on equity, solidarity, and effective multilateral action, one that lives up to the 2030 Agenda's core promise to leave no one behind, and one that proves we've learned the lessons of the recent past. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that in our interconnected world, no country can protect itself alone. We learned this at immense human and economic cost. Our responsibility now is to turn this lesson into lasting preparedness by grounding our responses in equity, solidarity, and effective multilateral cooperation, and by harnessing the power of science and the commitment of communities and local health workers, and by recognizing that we must never again let a global pandemic paralyze or divide us. Excellencies, since the 2023 political declaration, the world has made significant progress. This includes important amendments to the International Health Regulations, adoption of the World Health Organization's pandemic agreement, and ongoing negotiations towards the pathogen access and benefit sharing annex. But our work is far from done. Despite some progress in pathogen access and benefit sharing, more work is needed to bring it across the finish line. And even as we meet today, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo shows that dangerous pathogens continue to test our collective readiness. Too often, complacency replaces action. When a virus first hits, money flows and promises are made. But when infections slow, commitments start to wane and global trust in public health systems starts to erode. We cannot allow this cycle to continue. Excellencies, this high-level meeting is about building on the 2023 political declaration with concrete actions. We see three areas of focus. First, we must close the massive financing gaps. All countries need and deserve well-funded community-based systems for detection, surveillance, communication, and containment. When communities are protected, we are all protected. I call on governments to ensure predictable and sustainable resources to back up our promises and save lives. On the second, we must embrace a genuine One Health approach. Human health is intrinsically linked to the health of the natural environment, including plants and animals. We must deepen our understanding of human interaction with the natural world and find ways to stop outbreaks before they spread to humans. And finally, Equity is not optional. It is foundational. All countries need access to life-saving tools as a matter of justice and as the most effective way to stop outbreaks in their tracks. The pathogen access and benefit sharing system under negotiation is critical to unlocking the full potential of the WHO pandemic agreement. There is no time to waste. I call on member states to accelerate these actions Let's get it done. Let's deliver the pandemic agreement the world is waiting for. Excellencies, the theme of this year's General Assembly is "Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all." Few global challenges illustrate that theme more clearly than pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The next pandemic is not a question of if, it is a question of when. It will test our health systems and our commitment to one another. Guided by your discussions today, let's make sure it's a test that we all pass. I thank you.

Thank you, Madam Deputy Secretary-General. Once again, I'll welcome Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, to this meeting, and would like to invite him to make a statement.

Your Excellency, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the General Assembly. Your Excellency, Amar Benjama, President of ECOSOC. My sister, Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed. The Right Honourable Helen Clark. Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends. Soon after my election as Director General in 2017, I was invited to speak at an event at Columbia University here in New York during the General Assembly. The title was, "Is the world ready for the next pandemic?" My answer was no. Just over two years later, COVID-19 arrived and indeed the world was not prepared. It became the most severe global health crisis in a century, causing more than 20 million excess deaths and wiping over 10 trillion US dollars from the global economy. The pandemic exposed and exacerbated fault lines in global health security. During the pandemic and since, WHO established 10 initiatives to make the world safer from future epidemics and pandemics in five key areas. Most of these were recommendations by the panel led by President Sirleif and Prime Minister Helen Clark. Those areas are to strengthen national capacities, the pandemic fund with the World Bank and the Universal Health and Preparedness Review, and to strengthen surveillance and early warning, the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, to improve equitable access to vaccines and other tools, the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and COVAX, the Interim Medical Countermeasures Network, the mRNA Technology Transfer Program in South Africa, and the Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative in the Republic of Korea. To encourage international sharing of pathogen samples, the WHO BioHub in Switzerland. And to strengthen international response capacity, the Global Health Emergency Core. In addition to strengthen all these components of global health security, member states also strengthen the international legal framework that governs pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Two years ago, member states adopted a package of amendments to the international health regulations, which entered into force last September. And at the World Health Assembly last year, you adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which is very historic. In a divided and divisive world, countries found common ground for a common purpose. You showed that multilateralism still works, and it's alive and well. The final piece of the puzzle is the pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, which countries are continuing to negotiate. Although differences remain, I'm confident that countries will find common ground, just as they did with the agreement itself. It's essential they do, so the agreement can begin the process of ratification and enter into force as international law. But let me be clear about one thing. The pandemic agreement and the IHR do not, I repeat, do not infringe on national sovereignty in any way. On the contrary, they have been negotiated and adapted by sovereign states as an act of their sovereignty, because they recognize that pandemics do not respect borders. I think all of us repeated the same thing. And the best defense against them is not isolation, but cooperation. Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response is not merely a noble aspiration. It is a global public good. In my speech at Columbia University nine years ago, I used a phrase for the first time that I came to use many more times during the pandemic. I said that no one is safe until everyone is safe. That's the spirit of declaration that's before you today. I commend member states for the seriousness and the stamina you brought to negotiating it. In particular, I thank the co-facilitators His Excellency Ambassador Ngoga of Rwanda; and His Excellency Ambassador Hovhannisyan of Armenia. I also recognize Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock of Germany for her efforts to advance this work during her time as President of the General Assembly. I know the negotiations were not easy. and that differences remain. But you have agreed on important commitments to concrete, measurable, and urgent action to address gaps, a commitment to build and strengthen local and national capacities, a commitment to invest in resilient health systems, a commitment to foster trust in public health systems and institutions, a commitment to community engagement, and a commitment to solidarity and equity in access to products, tools, and resources. We welcome the political declaration, and we look forward to its adoption. Excellencies, the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as DSG Amina had said, is a reminder of the ever-present threat to epidemics and pandemics, not only for local communities, but the whole world. Ebola is unlikely to become a pandemic. It will not be a pandemic. But the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. So today, I leave you with just one request, just one. Get Pubs done as soon as possible. Please conclude the negotiation as soon as possible. Further delays are not just delays in procedure or process. They are delays that cost all countries dearly when the next pandemic arrives. We can never say the world is ready enough. The threat evolves and so must we. But is the world more ready than it was before COVID-19? Yes and no. And if you fulfill the commitments you're making today, you will make it a yes. You will make it a yes. So I thank you and Chair, President, back to you.

I thank the Director General of the World Health Organization for his statement. We are particularly honored to have Her Excellency, Right Honorable Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response with us this morning. I have the honor to request her to make a statement.

Thank you, President of the General Assembly. I acknowledge the President of the Economic and Social Council, the Deputy Secretary-General, Excellencies, all distinguished participants, all protocols observed. Since we were at the last high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response three years ago, there has been progress, but not yet enough. We must all keep working to do better. We must not forget, as you emphasised, Mr. President, what a catastrophe COVID-19 was. So let me make four key points. The first, we do see countries reporting outbreaks of concern and WHO very rapidly sounding the alarm when they do. Take, for example, Andes Hantavirus cruise ship outbreak. notified globally a day after confirmation of the virus. We also know, though, that the virus circulated for around three weeks before hantavirus was identified, and this required a costly, internationally coordinated response. We can and we must do better at anticipating and managing known risks before they become international emergencies. We have good, updated international health regulations We have good WHO guidance, including around outbreaks on ships. Another example, WHO declared the Bundibugyo outbreak a public health emergency of international concern within two days of its confirmation, with Africa CDC following rapidly a day later. But we now know that the virus had been spreading for some time. a known Ebola variant with two previous outbreaks. It is so vital that surveillance and detection is supported in the most fragile contexts. This needs solidarity funding. And as Bundibugyo was a known and very deadly risk, we have to ask why it had not been a priority to develop countermeasures to combat it. Second point. Science and innovation are doing their job in developing tools rapidly to fight outbreaks and pandemic threats. But we don't see enough progress on guaranteeing that the benefits are widely shared. Even if countermeasures are available, are they affordable and accessible to everyone who needs them? Who will pay for that? These are not details, they are foundational to equity and to stopping all future outbreaks. Third point, emergencies should be able to trigger reliable pre-announced funding, not a scramble for dollars. Responses are made more complex as well, where there are many funding streams with different rules, conditionalities, reporting and accountability. We need sustainable, reliable, pre-arranged funding to help stop outbreaks quickly. And we need the arrangements for surge financing if a pandemic threat actually materializes. We're still far short of the $15 billion needed every year in international financing to fill the preparedness gap. The Pandemic Fund does the very best job it can with the funding it has. Please give it more support. Every weakness in surveillance, diagnostics, laboratories, the health workforce, and in the essential community engagement which builds trust, leaves us all more vulnerable. More must be invested at the front end. Final point, preventing another pandemic catastrophe ultimately relies on political leadership and multi-sectoral and global coordination. In 2025, the WHO member states adopted the text of the pandemic agreement, but it can't go to signature, ratification, and implementation until the pathogen access and benefit sharing annex is finalized. A path must be found through the current impasse in negotiations. That path must support the fast sharing of pathogen samples and sequence information and it must ensure guaranteed access to benefits. My call, like that of Dr. Tedros, to leaders around the world is, please put your weight now behind these negotiations. To conclude, an important outcome of this high-level meeting was to be the endorsement of the political declaration, which the member states have worked hard on. That declaration text looks forward to the conclusion of the PABS negotiations. It draws attention to financing needs, to the need for multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination, and for monitoring of pandemic risks and our collective preparedness and response capacities. That declaration can help the world move forward together. We could make COVID-19 the last pandemic. With the commitment of member states, that can be achieved. I thank you.

I thank you, Your Excellency, co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response. We have heard the last speaker in the opening segment. I thank our distinguished speakers once again for their participation and insightful interventions. Kindly remain seated as they depart the podium. The plenary segment of the High-Level Meeting will begin momentarily.

Play from the Khan Ride Destination Weekend Dhamaka. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we will now hear statements in the plenary segment in accordance with paragraph 3b of General Assembly resolution 79/333. I remind delegations that two parallel multi-stakeholder panels will take place in conference room two. 00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 00 to 5:00 p.m. Before giving the floor to the first speaker, I would like to remind delegations that as indicated in my letter dated 16 September 2026, speakers will be given the floor without reading out their name and title. I also note that we have a very long list of speakers. In order to hear from as many delegations as possible within the time limit that is available, all speakers are requested to adhere to the time limit of three minutes for statements delivered in a national capacity and five minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of states. These time limits will be strictly enforced by means of microphone cut-off. I apologize in advance should any speaker be cut off. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on screen. Having said this, I would appeal to all speakers to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace. to facilitate interpretation into the six official languages, and to send a copy of their statements to e-statements@un.org. I thank you for your cooperation. The first speaker on my list is Cabo Verde. You have the floor.

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Cabo Verde hereby joins Burundi's statement on behalf of the African Group. The COVID-19 pandemic has painfully shown us that no country is truly safe until everyone is protected. It has also shown us that pandemic preparedness does not begin when an emergency arises. Preparedness is built every day through strong health systems that are close to communities. Cabo Verde welcomes the political declaration we are approving today and reaffirms its commitment to a multilateral approach based on equity, solidarity, science, and respect for human rights. At the national level, we continue to strengthen the national health service and invest in prevention, primary health care, vaccination, and training of health workers. Cabo Verde was certified as a malaria-free country in 2024 and achieved the elimination of measles and rubella by 2025. Childhood vaccination coverage reached 96.5% in 2024. This progress confirms that consistent public policies save lives, but vulnerabilities persist, aggravated by insularity, climate change, and territorial dispersion of the archipelago. The government of Cabo Verde, within the framework of Cabo Verde for All agenda, has affirmed health as a fundamental right and a cornerstone of sustainable development. That is why, within three months of taking office in my country, Cabo Verde, we decided to eliminate all the user fees charged for public health services provided. We are committed to advancing towards a universal, equitable, and resilient health system, ensuring access to healthcare across all our islands. This commitment encompasses strengthening primary healthcare, improving access to essential medicine, valuing health professionals, modernizing healthcare infrastructure, and expanding the use of telemedicine. Excellencies, pandemic Preparedness requires national responsibility, but it cannot depend solely on the financial capacity of each country. Small island developing states need predictable financing, technical assistance, and timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. We must address the deep inequalities that are exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I thank Cabo Verde for the statement. I now invite Andorra. You have the floor.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the COVID-19 pandemic reminded us, by the way, I'm the Prime Minister of Andorra, The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us of a simple yet fundamental truth. No country can protect itself from a pandemic alone. For Andorra, as for many other countries, the pandemic tested both our health system and our ability to respond rapidly to an unprecedented emergency. It also reminded us that preparedness cannot begin when a crisis is already underway. It must be built in advance through resilient institutions, reliable information, effective cooperation, and public trust. Since then, Andorra has continued to strengthen its capacity to prevent and respond to health emergencies. Digitalization has played a key role in this effort. Our centralized electronic health record system introduced in 2019 proved particularly valuable during the pandemic by enabling healthcare professionals to share information and to coordinate more effectively. Preparedness also requires an integrated response to a wide range of risks. In this regard, Andorra is reviewing response protocols and reinforcing cooperation among government institutions and civil society. This whole of government and whole of society approach is, in our point of view, essential to building resilience. Yet, national preparedness is only one part of the equation. Andorra firmly believes in the central role of the World Health Organization and in the value of multilateral cooperation. We therefore welcome the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement in 2025 and support its effective implementation. And in this context, Andorra attaches particular importance to reaching agreement on a pathogen access and benefit sharing mechanism. This is a crucial element of solidarity, mutual trust, and our collective capacity to respond to future pandemics. As a small country, Andorra also highly values cooperation among small states and the support provided by the WHO Small Countries Initiative. We're convinced that the experience of smaller health systems can make a meaningful contribution to global preparedness efforts. Excellencies, the emergence of a new pandemic would test not only the capacity of our healthcare and research institutions, but also our commitment to multilateral cooperation and our willingness to work together for the common good. Let us strengthen preparedness before the emerges, we will forge the multilateral system that allows us to face it together and ensure that no country is left behind. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Andorra. I would like to invite European Union to speak on behalf of EU and member states. You have the floor.

Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality. President, Excellencies, all protocols observed. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement. We have more tools than ever to advance pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Yet the fragmentation of our action and challenges beyond health risk undermining the fight against pandemic. Action requires consensus and respect for international rules. The declaration before us offers salient elements to advance PPR, yet also contains setbacks towards our crucial shared goal, a safer, healthier world for all. The text usefully stresses the primary responsibility borne by states to strengthening PPPR. It promotes the integration of PPPR action into health systems and underscores the need for effective regulatory systems, science-based communication, and vaccination. It further enshrines the One Health approach as essential to prevent zoonotic spillover and AMR. We also welcome the declaration's support for coordination among the World Health Organization as the central pillar of the global health architecture. Important goal health initiatives like the pandemic fund and other actors. Action should support PPPR networks enabling effective response. And as the declaration indicates, it is important to operationalize the coordination financial mechanism. These elements of the declaration are embodied in the amendments, international health regulations, and in the pandemic agreement. They allow member states that have accepted these instruments to strengthen the IHR implementation and to give impetus to the finalization of the negotiation of the PAB. annex without prejudging outcomes which will enable the signature and ratification of the pandemic agreement. Of course, nothing in the declaration can modify the provisions of these important instruments. Having said this, there are several elements that set us back and continue to represent explicit red lines for us. First, technology transfer must be voluntary and on a mutually agreed terms and references to the TRIPS agreements and Doha declaration must be comprehensive and fully aligned to its text; second, While we value the declaration's emphasis on health sovereignty, domestic financing and reduction of aid dependency, complementary international financing should be reflected in balanced manner and we regret the declaration's silence on a global financial tracker. Finally, we must mobilize all tools necessary to secure effective PPR, yet there is no reference to the key actors like the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. While the text before us today falls short of our goals, the EU remains fully committed to the important overarching objective of the political declaration. Before I conclude, allow me to express my sincere gratitude and solidarity with the healthcare workers that, on a daily basis, are working in emergency settings, including with the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union, and I call on the distinguished representative of Malta.

Distinguished colleagues, Malta aligns with the statement made by the European Union and is delivering the following remarks in its national capacity. Malta supports the adoption of this political declaration as an important step towards stronger, more practical, and more equitable pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Malta welcomes progress through the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations. These advances underscore the value of multilateral cooperation and should strengthen countries' preparedness, resilience, and response capacities. Effective implementation requires approaches tailored to national contexts. The partnerships and exchanges can strengthen capacity, share practical experience, and support implementation, while sustained collaboration across borders, sectors, and institutions is essential for effective action. Preparedness efforts should be guided by evidence, public trust, equity, solidarity, and respect for human rights as we strengthen resilience to future health threats. For small states such as Malta, this is particularly important. Limited capacity, reliance on cross-border supply chains, and disproportionate impact of sudden health emergencies mean that preparedness must be practical, flexible, and supported by strong regional and international cooperation. Building on progress achieved since the COVID-19 pandemic, This political declaration provides an important opportunity to advance sustainable action at national, regional, and global levels. Success will depend on technical expertise, financing, and capacity building support that respond to countries' needs and circumstances. Preparedness and response must also be supported by stronger prevention, including a coordinated One Health approach that addresses risks at their source. Malta supports continued investment in strong and people-centered health systems and primary health care, surveillance and laboratory capacities, equitable access to medical countermeasures, and the well-supported health workforce as essential foundations of preparedness and resilience. A life course approach is equally important. Preparedness must recognize the needs of children, older persons, and other vulnerable groups, while safeguarding access to education, routine immunization, essential health services, and mental health support, and also promoting social connectedness and community resilience. Ultimately, global preparedness is only as strong as all countries' ability to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats effectively. Sustained cooperation, practical support, and solidarity

I thank the distinguished representative of Malta. I now invite the distinguished representative of Burundi.

Mr.

President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. The Group also appreciates the exemplary work of His Excellency Martin Nigoga from Rwanda and Paroer Hovhannisyan from Armenia. Mr. President, the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response is an expression of solidarity and international cooperation grounded in the Pandemic Agreement. Implementation must advance universal health coverage through inclusive, equitable, affordable, resilient, and high and quality health systems while addressing fragmentation within the global health architecture. The African group appeals to the international community to close the 1.5 billion US dollar financing gap for the Ebola response, and to mobilize the resources required to fully and rapidly fund preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. We reaffirm our commitment to the Abuja Declaration target of allocating at least 15% of national budgets to health, and reaffirm the Accra Reset Agenda's call for country-owned and predictable financing. The group also calls upon lending countries and institutions to apply innovative debt relief and debt cancellation methods, including debt-for-health swaps, to expand fiscal space. We call for investment in health education, training, recruitment, and retention, and measures to prevent the loss of skilled health workers from developing countries. These priorities must be reflected while ensuring accountability for the commitments made today. Mr. President, Technology transfer hubs and intellectual property sharing mechanisms should be expanded. New tools and research outcomes must be equitably accessible and affordable, particularly during the first 100 days of an outbreak. Intellectual property frameworks should not impede access. and the WTO Doha Declaration on TRIPS must be implemented. Preparedness must be centered on people. Day zero financing should support community engagement and the social, economic, and psychosocial needs of affected populations. The rapid sharing of pathogen materials and sequence information in accordance with national laws must be matched on an equal footing by rapid, fair, and equitable benefit sharing. We emphasize the need for local production of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other health technologies supported by development cooperation unhindered technology transfer, and the removal of unilateral coercive measures. Mr. President, the Africa Group is convinced that food security and nutrition are integral to pandemic preparedness. Sustainable food and agriculture systems must therefore be advanced in an integrated manner. Each country must define health priorities according to its national context. and the important role played by regional institutions such as the Africa CDC must be recognized. In conclusion, the Africa Group calls for the implementation of this political declaration and the pandemic agreement, supported by development financing in line with the Seville commitment and the Addis Ababa action agenda.

I thank the distinguished representative of Burundi speaking on behalf of the Africa Group. And I now invite the distinguished representative of Haiti speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM.

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Community of the Caribbean, CARICOM. The CARICOM remains staunchly committed to advancing health, security, resilience, and sustainable means of subsistence of our populations. We've made major progress while bearing in mind the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. These lessons today remain more relevant than ever. COVID-19 showed with stark clarity the fact that pandemics know no borders and that no country, regardless of its level of development, can prevent pandemics by itself or prepare for them or effectively respond to them. For CARICOM, this experience drives home the importance of multilateralism, regional solidarity, and collective action. Our capacity to step up our resilience hinges on the strength of our regional institutions and our partnerships. The project 2024-2026 of the Fund for Pandemics of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, known as CARPHA, implemented by CARPHA in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank, is a significant example. This initiative strengthens capacity for prevention, preparation, and pandemic response, both at the regional and the national levels. Nonetheless, preparation must not be limited to scattershot investment. Recent public health emergencies, coupled with climate change, natural disasters, and conflicts, strengthen the need for cooperation and sustainable international solidarity. We need to beef up our capacity for prevention and for early detection of health threats, and we must intervene before emergency situations become pandemics. Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, CARICOM supports the political declaration, as well as its alignment with the WHO agreement on pandemics and the International Health Regulations of 2005, as amended. These instruments need to be comprehensively and coherently implemented while placing fairness and solidarity in the heart of their implementation. We also reaffirm the sovereign right of states over their biological resources. While negotiations continue on the annex to the access, the system of access to pathogenic agents and the sharing of advantages and the PABS system, we want to underscore that the rapid sharing of pathogenic agents and information about genetic sequences need to be combined with sharing within appropriate timeframes in fair, transparent, and predictable fashion of the advantages stemming from their use. For CARICOM, this is a major element to establish trust in the international health architecture to guarantee prevention and preparedness for pandemics with shared responsibility. For most small island developing states, preparation for pandemics is not a abstract concern. Our geographical realities, our porous borders, and our strong dependency on tourism and international travel, our financial and human resources, which are scant, as well as our strong vulnerability to climate disasters and natural disasters, all of these can amplify the repercussions of health emergencies. President, Excellencies, the full meaning of our declaration will be how it's implemented. We need a national and international mechanism that is stronger. We need early warning and equal access to vaccines and treatments. CARICOM stands ready to work with all member states, with the UN system, the WHO, and regional organizations and international financial organizations, and all of our partners in order to craft a global framework. Our collective security depends on our collective preparation. CARICOM remains resolved to forge a world that is safer, more healthy-- microphone has been cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of Haiti, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Mr. President, Excellencies, COVID-19 crossed borders faster than life-saving tools did. Too many countries waited too long for vaccine, diagnostic and therapeutics. That delay cost lives. Our task today is to ensure that the next response move faster and reach everyone. Indonesia support the adoptions of the 2026 political declarations on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. We must now make sure our global health architecture can actually deliver on its commitment. We must therefore strengthen global cooperations with WHO at the center of this architecture, setting norms, convening stakeholders, and coordinating actions quickly, especially during a crisis. The adoptions of the WHO pandemic agreement was a major achievement for multilateralism, but one important piece of the puzzle is still missing. We must now conclude pathogen access and benefit sharing annex, ensuring that pathogen sharing is matched by fair and equitable access to its benefits. Financing must also move quickly when a crisis strikes. Indonesia helped launch the pandemic fund during our G20 presidency in 2022. We must now strengthen its ability to disburse search financing rapidly during emergencies. At home, Indonesia is strengthening its preparedness. We are expanding molecular diagnostic capacity across 10,000 primary healthcare centers. And we are also deploying PCR diagnostic capacity at 514 public health lab networks in every cities. We have also expanded our genomic surveillance to 41 regional laboratories across 38 provinces. We have increased the number of vaccine manufacturers from one to four with combined annual capacity of up to 3.6 billion doses of vaccines. But no country can build global resilience alone. Global resilience is stronger when manufacturing capacity is more widely distributed across regions. With technology transfer and sustainable production in more regions, the world will be able to expand supply when demand surges. So, ladies and gentlemen, the real test of this declaration will come when the next threat is detected, how quickly we act, and whether every country can access the tools to protect its people. The next pandemic will not wait.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Micronesia, Federated States of Micronesia. You have the floor.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, for Micronesia, pandemic preparedness is a challenge due to its remoteness, like many SIDS or SITS. Our country is spread across 1 million square miles. Mitigation, laboratory sample, medical specialists, or an emergency response team cannot simply be moved across a neighboring island or state Reaching our remote communities require air or sea transportation that may be limited or unavailable during an emergency. This reality shapes the way we must think about pandemic prevention and response. Therefore, preparedness is key to effective delivery of essential health services, ensuring that our remote communities are not left behind. Lack of specialized expertise, geographical isolation, and limited infrastructure impede access to HSTIC healthcare. For this reason, we see pandemic preparedness as an investment in the resilience of the entire health system. We need to endure, we need to enhance surveillance systems, develop and retain a capable health workforce, and expand laboratory and diagnostic capabilities. We need to invest in digital technologies and information systems, increase access to essential medicines, vaccines, and equipment, and fully equipped our hospitals and community dispensaries. Chair, our countries have much to gain from working together through shared national capacities, providing emergency relief and assistance. The international community has an important role to play in making these arrangements possible and sustainable. Preparedness, financing must recognize the high cost created by remoteness, small population, and limited economies of scale. Access to

Thank the distinguished representative of Micronesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand.

Mr. President, Excellency, Thailand welcomes this high-level meeting at a time when the world needs stronger preparedness and renewed trust in multilateral cooperation. Three years after the first high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, important progress has been made. The amended international health regulation have entered into force, and the WHO pandemic agreement has been adopted. Our responsibility now is to translate this commitment into the coherent, sustainably financed, and accountable action in the national, regional, and the global level. Thailand would like to highlight three priorities. First, preparedness must be embedded in the health system people use every day. For Thailand, universal health coverage and the health security reinforce one another. Investment in primary health care, surveillance, laboratory, field epidemiology, and community network strengthen both routine services and emergency preparedness. Thailand's network of more than 1 million village health volunteers demonstrate how capacity built in a normal time can be a first line of defense during a crisis. Second, equity must be guide both access and financing. The rapid sharing of information and pathogen samples must be advanced together with timely affordable, and equitable access to vaccine, diagnostic, and therapeutics. Thailand support effort to operationalize the WHO Pandemic Agreement alongside the effective implementation of the amended International Health Regulations, including the timely conclusion of negotiation on the annex concerning the pathogen access and benefit sharing system. We also call for predictable, sustainable, and rapidly deployable financing aligned with the country-led priorities, including the investment in regional manufacturing, laboratory capacity, and resilient supply chain. Third, preparedness must be nationally owned, regionally reinforced, and inclusive access generation. Health threat cross border and many emerge in the interface between people, animal, plants, and environment must be operationalized into One Health approach. Joint risk assessment, cross-border coordination, and community engagement. A stronger, more resilient ASEAN can contribute to enhance global health security. Accountability should be built on existing national, regional mechanism, support peer learning, and translate lesson learned. Thailand stand ready to work with all members and all partners to build a safer, healthier, and more resilient world for all. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

The State of Qatar believes firmly that health represents a major pillar and enabler of sustainable development and a measure of this prosperity of societies. Accordingly, we are moving forward towards a vision 2030 where human development is the basis. We are building an infrastructure that is resilient and capable of providing equitable care. We are preparing for health crises and emergencies, and building an advanced healthcare system. Our policy is based on health for all, and three priorities, residents' health, service providing provision and universal care. We are building a system to overcome the challenges and thanks to our major investments, we have succeeded in providing an excellent model of comprehensive response addressing the society as a whole. we aim to mitigate global emergencies through providing assistance around the world. In this context, we applaud the tireless efforts by the WHO in addressing the current health emergencies. In conclusion, Qatar reiterates that addressing Future pandemics will only be successful through solidarity and equitable access to the tools we all need. We address the efforts that aim to promote our health preparedness together. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Qatar, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Madam President. The COVID-19 crisis demonstrated that pandemics respect neither borders and economies nor political differences, while causing profound health, economic, and social disruption. It also emphasized the significance of multilateral cooperation as the international community came together to respond to this unprecedented challenge. Pakistan's own successful COVID-19 response was driven by a whole of government and whole of society approach, including smart lockdowns, testing, contact tracing, public communications, robust social safety net, and protection of vulnerable populations. Pakistan has embraced a multi-sectoral One Health approach, bringing together human, animal, and environmental health to strengthen prevention, early detection, and coordinated response to emerging and re-emerging diseases. This integrated approach is central to our national pandemic preparedness strategy. The international community must move from reaching to reacting to pandemics, to preventing, preparing for, and to responding to all these together. Pakistan welcomes the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Treaty and remains firmly committed to a strong, inclusive, and WHO-led multilateral response to pandemics. The implementation of the treaty requires adequate and predictable financing alongside greater support for investment in scientific, technological, and manufacturing capacities in developing countries. Technology transfer must move from aspiration to implementation, while vaccines and other essential medical countermeasures must be accessible and affordable to all, not subjected to inequitable distribution or hoarding. Equally important is the establishment of effective mechanism for the rapid transparent and accurate sharing of the pandemic related data, enabling the international community to detect emerging threats early and respond to them collectively and effectively. Madam President, Pakistan remains firmly committed to working with the international community to confront the common threat of future pandemics through collective action anchored in equity and solidarity. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Pakistan. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Rwanda aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Africa Group. Rwanda welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting and the opportunity it provides to renew our collective commitment to foster a multilateral and intergenerational approach to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics and public health through the principles of equity and solidarity. Mr. President, over the past decade, Rwanda has faced COVID-19, Mpox, Marburg virus disease, and other epidemic outbreaks. The current Ebola outbreak in DRC reminds us that preparedness must be sustained. Each outbreak has tested our capacity, we chose to act on the lessons, building systems that could serve us in the next emergency. We have linked community-based primary care with national surveillance and emergency response. Community health workers and health facilities raise alerts. Digital systems bring these signals together with laboratory and animal health information. And our national laboratory sequences high-risk pathogens to guide response decisions. Through One Health, we are extending surveillance to animal and wildlife. and our trained workforce and emergency coordination structures turn these signals into action while helping essential services continue. Mr. President, these lessons are reflected in the political declaration before us, which Rwanda welcomes. We commend the inclusive process that brought us to this point. Drawing on our experience, we call for progress in three areas. First, Provide predictable multi-year financing aligned with national preparedness plans so countries can maintain core capacities between emergencies. Second, invest in connected digital and surveillance systems that link community, facility, laboratory, animal, and environmental information and enable timely coordination across borders. Third, ensure equitable and timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics including for pathogen with no license products. Pathogen sharing must go hand in hand with fair sharing of benefits, manufacturing and regulatory capacity. Rwanda is committed to strengthening preparedness at home and working with our neighbors and partners across the region. Let us turn the commitments we have adopted into capabilities ready before the next emergency. I thank you.

≫> I thank distinguished representative of Rwanda. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain.

Chair, excellencies, colleagues, Spain aligns itself with the statement on behalf of the European Union and member states. First of all, we're thinking of the boys and girls born after 2020. What world are they living in? Today we see that the DRC has the most rapid Ebola outbreak ever. International assistance for health is failing. Some governments have decided to leave the WHO. They can leave the WHO, but they cannot leave the planet. They cannot ignore the effects on health. They cannot deny the effects. Peace is a condition to protect health and to be prepared to health threats. We see this in the Gaza genocide, in Sudan, and in Ukraine. There is no early warning under bombs when what is being destroyed is hospitals and health services. we are also weakening our capacity to detect and respond to tomorrow's threats. There is another way Spain showed this in May, when 23 persons of different nationalities were on board a ship which had an outbreak. We didn't ask anyone where they were coming from. We just asked what they needed. We shared with WHO Europe and with every country, and the outbreak was successfully controlled. We have resorted to cooperation, equity, solidarity, multilateral action, and this consensus is all the more important today. The political statement that we have on the table today must strengthen commitments. Spain supports it because given a global threat, we must work together. We must protect those who are more vulnerable, and we must guarantee that no country is left behind. This is the lesson that we must learn, that a virus has no papers. We can open up threats. Public health responds. And some hours are safe only when everyone is safe. Spain increased its world assistance by 13%. And we don't need to select between rapid action and equity because we need both. We need better coordinated existence and with a strong WHO at the center. When boys and girls reach our age, they will know whether they found multilateralism or negations of services.

And Spain, representative of Spain. And I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey.

Mr. President, distinguished participants, It is a pleasure to meet with you under the auspices of the United Nations, and I extend my respectful greetings to all participants. The pandemics have demonstrated that global health security is a shared responsibility. The challenges that no country can address alone can only be overcome through collective action and international cooperation. We believe that the political declaration agreed upon will make a significant contribution to strengthening global health and advancing international cooperation against pandemics. As Turkey, We successfully managed our healthcare system throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With our strong healthcare infrastructure, we ensured that none of our citizens, from the youngest to the oldest, was left without access to medical treatment. During those difficult days, we transformed our experience and capabilities into global solidarity. We extended a helping hand without expectation of reciprocity to countries in need. Because we stand on the side of good, we want people to live in health, peace and dignity. Distinguished delegates, health, just like the right to life, is a fundamental human right. One of the reasons why we say the world is bigger than five is the injustice and inequality in access to healthcare services. No country should be left alone in the face of health emergencies. Today, we are confronted with grave circumstances in Gaza, where women and children are being killed and innocent people are unable to access even a vaccine or essential medicines. In a world where people lose their lives before our very eyes simply because they cannot access medical treatment, we cannot speak meaningfully of either global health security or conscience. We categorically reject this system of oppression, built upon a logic of injustice in which wars are field, brother is turned against brother, and profit is pursued at the expense of the suffering of innocent people. We stand for the right to life in a world in which all people have equitable access to healthcare under equal conditions. As Turkey, under the leadership of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, we will continue to stand with the oppressed wherever they may be and remain on the side of peace and humanity. Distinguished participants, every step we take together today constitutes a legacy that we will leave to future generations. Let us make the protection of health a way of life and peace a shared responsibility. Let us share our knowledge and experience. Let us mobilize technology in the service of a healthier future. From this rostrum, I call upon all countries to unite around the common values of humanity and to strengthen cooperation for a healthier world. I thank the General Assembly for its attention.

Representative of Turkey, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mozambique.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. It is an honor to address this important meeting on behalf of the government of the Republic of Mozambique. Worldwide, Mozambique ranks among the most vulnerable countries to extreme climate events. This year, for example, we faced one of the most severe floods in the recent decades in the south of the country. Cyclones and heavy floods recurrently destroy health infrastructure and trigger severe outbreaks. Therefore, Mozambique has chosen to transform these adversities into institutional resilience. Grounded on our accumulated experience, we are strengthening the essential pillar of health security, including establishment of the Public Health Emergency Operation Center Network to better prepare, respond, and recover from public health threats, establishment of public health laboratories in every province and the first school of public health and development on the One Health strategy, recognizing that human, animal, and environmental health should be addressed simultaneously. With these initiatives, Mozambique vision to be a regional center of excellency for public health emergency management. Mozambique call upon this assembly to ensure that the resulting political declaration translate into concrete commitment, including on predictable and sustainable financing for public health preparedness and prevention, equitable access to vaccine, diagnostic and therapeutics, including accelerate regional manufacturing agenda. The full recognition on the One Health approach as a pillar of the global health architecture for pandemic preparedness. Mozambique reaffirms its commitment to continue implementing the pandemic agreement and to strengthen the national capacity to detect, notify, and respond timely to public health threats. We recognize that pandemic begin and end in the communities, so we should not forget to engage them in this matter. I thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mozambique. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia.

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Slovenia fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the EU, to which I would like to add a few remarks in my national capacity. The Republic of Slovenia endorses the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and welcomes the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations. These are important steps towards strengthening global health security and ensuring a more effective response to future health threats. We hope that countries will also reach an agreement as soon as possible on pathogen access and benefit sharing, thereby enabling the WHO Pandemic Agreement to be opened for signature and ratification. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that strong, resilient and accessible health systems are the foundation of security, societal resilience and sustainable development. No country can address global health challenges on its own. Slovenia therefore firmly supports multilateralism and international solidarity in coordinating global efforts. We must pay particular attention to strengthening primary health care, training and retaining health care workers, enhancing laboratory and surveillance capacities, and ensuring the uninterrupted provision of key health care services. Resilience cannot be built during a crisis. it must be built in a peacetime. This requires preparedness through exercises, training, and cross-sectoral cooperation. Our measures must also be based on scientific evidence, be proportionate, and focus on protecting the most vulnerable population groups. Slovenia supports fair and timely access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other health technologies. Equally important is investment in research, innovation, and regional manufacturing capacity in response to future pandemics. Another important element of our collective preparedness is also the One Health approach. We must also strengthen public confidence through an open communication and effective action to counter disinformation, which can seriously undermine public health. Ladies and gentlemen, investing in resilient health systems and thereby ensuring preparedness for pandemics is not a cost, but an investment in safer, more resilient and fairer future. Slovenia supports the call for the Secretary General of the United Nations to prepare in cooperation with the WHO, a report on the implementation of this political declaration and to propose further steps to strengthen global preparedness for future health challenges. Only through cooperation, trust and shared responsibility will we be better prepared to protect people's health around the world. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Slovenia. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala.

Madam Chair, Guatemala appreciates the convocation of this high-level meeting and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response based on equity, solidarity, and international cooperation. The experience of COVID-19 left us with lessons we cannot forget. It reminded us that no country is fully protected, while others lack the necessary means to protect their peoples. And it showed the importance of having resilient health systems to reinforce multisectoral cooperation and provide continuity for health services before, during and after health emergencies.

In this context, Guatemala continues to affect surveillance of laboratories, of response mechanisms and supply chains, all of which is essential to guarantee accessibility to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other inputs during an emergency. In the framework of international agreements and with the cooperation of PAHO and the WHO, Guatemala undertook a voluntary external assessment of its capacities. The results allowed it to determine areas of opportunity and establish a roadmap to continue to make progress. Preparedness for future pandemics requires effective international cooperation to promote equitable and affordable access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, et cetera. It also requires sustainable and predictable financing, innovation, transfer of knowledge, and capacity development. Guatemala thanks the co-facilitators, the permanent representatives of Armenia and Rwanda, for their efforts during the consultative and negotiating process of the political declaration. Now we must turn these commitments into concrete action to strengthen our health systems and our collective response capacity. Pandemics know no borders. Our cooperation and our solidarity should not know borders either. Thank you.

I thank the and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Angola.

Excellence, Señora President, distinguished delegates, my ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate the President of the 8th and 1st General Assembly for her election and wish her a mandate of success. Angola supports the declaration presented by Burundi on behalf of the African group. Today we meet in this chamber to reaffirm a commitment that transcends borders to protect our populations and prepare the present and future generations for new pandemics and public health emergencies. In 2023, we assumed important commitments through the declaration. that taught us a lesson. The security of each country is part of health. Angola is a concrete example of this approach. We invested in expansion and immunization.

This is primary health care, which represents...

28,000 professionals. This is a COVID-19, not as capacity to prepare for a response, como establishment center operations de emergência e saúde pública, e as capacidades de diagnóstico molecular e sequenciamento genômico numa só abordagem, uma só saúde. Angola está empenhada em mobilizar financiamento sustentável. Em conclusão, a saúde global só será alcançada por meio de ação coletiva, listraçada em forte cooperação multilateral, equidade e solidariedade. Portanto, Angola reafirma o seu compromisso com uma resposta global, inclusive coordenada com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, no centro de implementação prática das recentes alterações do Regulamento Sanitário Internacional. Muito obrigado.

I thank the distinguished representative of Angola. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Georgia.

Dear President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Georgia welcomes this high-level meeting and reaffirms its strong commitment to strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through international solidarity, equitable access, and resilient health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that health security is inseparable from national security, economic stability, and sustainable development. Georgia's experience offers important lessons. At the onset of the pandemic, we rapidly mobilized our public health institutions, introduced early containment, measures and strengthened surveillance, laboratory testing, and emergency response capacities. As the pandemic evolved, we expanded hospital capacity, mobilized healthcare professionals, introduced remote management of patients through primary healthcare, and implemented a nationwide vaccination program. close cooperation with United Nations agencies, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and other international partners played an important, let me say, crucial role in supporting our national response. Despite these efforts, the pandemic placed enormous pressure on our health system and highlighted the importance of sustained investment in preparedness. Today, we are translating these lessons into concrete actions. Georgia has launched the implementation of projects supported by the Pandemic Fund aimed at strengthening national capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The project focuses on strengthening disease surveillance, expanding genomic sequencing capacities, and improving the early detection of emerging health threats. Importantly, it advances the One Health approach by reinforcing multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment. This initiative represents an important step forward toward building a more integrated and resilient national health security system. In parallel, Georgia is strengthening its broader health system, our comprehensive primary health care reform, launched in 2025. aims to improve prevention, continuity of care, and management of chronic diseases while strengthening the health system's ability to maintain essential services during future emergencies. Excellencies, our experience has reinforced three fundamental lessons. First, preparedness must be built before the crisis occurs.

I thank the distinguished representative of And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovakia.

Mr. Vice President, Director General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, first of all, Slovak Republic aligns itself with the statement of the European Union. Preparedness for health emergencies is not merely a matter of policy or planning. It is a shared responsibility grounded in the capacity to act with determination in unity and at decisive moment to protect lives and safeguard the health and well-being of populations. The experience of COVID-19 reinforced the importance of this principle, but preparedness must extend well beyond the lessons of any single crisis. Preparedness must also be understood as a comprehensive health system capability, which includes resilient healthcare facilities, robust infection prevention and control, continuously updated professional procedures, and clearly defined responsibilities across institutions. I believe that effective preparedness also depends on the quality of governance. Scientific expertise, reliable data, transparent decision making, and credible public communication are essential elements of functioning response architecture. And I would underline here, credible public communication. These must be supported by regular assessment exercises and continuous adaptation as risks and epidemiological conditions evolve. Since the adoption of the first political declaration, important experience has been gained and further progress made in strengthening preparedness for future pandemics and other cross-border health threats. It is important to build on this progress and to ensure that these efforts contribute to sustainable and effective preparedness and response capacities. In Slovakia, this commitment is reflected in measures related to strengthening the legislative framework for public health, updating pandemic and crisis management mechanisms, and reinforcing epidemiological surveillance, early warning systems, and laboratory capacities, including genomic sequencing. These efforts are supported by a network of national reference centers, the development of BSL-3 laboratory capacity, and further use waste, uh, further use of wastewater surveillance as an important early warning tool. At international level, effective preparedness require a coherent, resilient, and functional framework for cooperation. This entails strengthening timely information exchange, advancing scientific and technical collaboration, as well as reinforcing early warning and risk assessment capacities. We also remain mindful that the key substantive elements of the pandemic agreement are still under negotiation, and therefore we should allow these discussions to be concluded properly before participating ourselves in the agreement's assessment. During ongoing negotiations, the Slovak Republic has been reiterating that the agreement has to properly address the biosafety, biosecurity, legal.

I thank the distinguished representative of Slovakia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, three years ago, this Assembly adopted the first collective declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Morocco is proud of having co-facilitated that unprecedented process during which we mobilized and leveraged political will at the highest levels to forge consensus. Over the last three years, the multilateral system has rallied around in order to strengthen pandemic preparedness into concrete action. However, pandemic risk has not been done away with. It is all the more complex, as we can see from the resurgent Ebola virus, because pandemics are not only a health threat, they also deeply affect economic and social stability, development, and security of populations. Prevention, therefore, is a collective political responsibility which calls for the highest level commitments and the coordinated mobilization of all sectors. Preparation needs to precede crises. It requires resilient systems, a ongoing capacity for surveillance and response, resources, and coordination mechanisms which can be rapidly mobilized. Morocco advocates in the spirit of solidarity for fairness and shared responsibility for equal access for technology transfer and for local and regional protection, in particular in Africa. And also we call for respectful international cooperation that respects national priorities. This ambition requires long-term predictable resources so that essential capacity can be built in the period between pandemics under the leadership of His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI. May God assist him. We are working to ensure multidimensional cooperation with building vaccines due to consistent public-private investment. Morocco remains fully committed to building on what it has achieved, strengthening its national capacity while strengthening African, regional, and international efforts in PPR. We stand ready to share our capacity and to develop partnerships and support international cooperation grounded in solidarity, fairness, and shared responsibility. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. Good afternoon.

Madam President, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Sierra Leone welcomes this high-level meeting convened pursuant to General Assembly resolution A/RES/79/333. For Sierra Leone, pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response are not abstract policy concepts. They are rooted in our lived experience. Our country has confronted Ebola, COVID-19, mpox, and other public health threats. Each crisis has left a lasting lesson. Investing in preparedness before an emergency is both wiser and far less costly than spending after an outbreak has already taken hold. The Ebola epidemic of 2014 to 2016 was a defining and painful moment for Sierra Leone. We lost thousands of our compatriots and witnessed the consequences of limited preparedness, weak laboratory capacity, shortages of trained personnel, and fragile health systems. But Sierra Leone resolved to turn tragedy into progress. In 2023, Sierra Leone established a national public health agency to coordinate prevention, detection, and response through a science-based approach. We strengthen surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, the health workforce, and coordination across sectors on our second national action plan for health security, guided by international health regulations and the One Health approach. In this regard, Sierra Leone calls for five commitments. Number one, an investment in preparedness before emergencies become disasters. Number two, close the financing gap, particularly for developing and vulnerable countries through predictable, accessible, and additional international financing. Third, ensure equitable access to lifesaving medical tools. Fourth, invest in people, epidemiologists, lab scientists, health workers, emergency managers, and community leaders. And fifth, deepen international cooperation with continued support of the leadership of the World Health Organization. Sierra Leone has learned that primary healthcare, community trust, surveillance, and rapid response are indispensable. Above all, we have learned that solidarity is not charity, it is enlightened self-interest. Let this meeting deliver more than promises. Let it strengthen national systems, secure sustainable financing, and ensure that no country is left behind. CLUIN stands ready to work with all member states, the United Nations, WHO, and partners to build a safer, healthier, and more resilient world. The question is not whether other pandemics will come, but whether we will be prepared. Let us choose preparedness over panic, prevention over reaction, and solidarity over.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Moldova.

Madam Chair, the delegates. The Republic of Moldova welcomes the opportunity to review the progress made since the adoption of the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening global health security through solidarity, equity, and multilateral cooperation. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that health emergencies know no borders and that preparedness is a shared responsibility. requiring coordinated action, community, national, regional, and global. The lessons learned continue to guide Moldova's efforts to build a resilient, people-oriented health system capable of preventing, detecting, and responding effectively to future public health threats. Over the past years, the Republic of Moldova has made significant progress in strengthening its capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. We have enhanced disease surveillance and epidemiological intelligence, strengthened early warning systems, modernized laboratory infrastructure, and expanded diagnostic capacities. These investments have improved the timely detection, monitoring, and management of health threats, while reinforcing the resilience of the national public health system. At the same time, the recent assessment and lessons learned have highlighted additional priorities that are critical to strengthening our preparedness. These include developing and sustaining a skilled health emergency workforce through continuous training and capacity building, further strengthening the legislative regulatory framework, and enhancing logistics, medical countermeasures, management, and strategic stockpiling. The Republic of Moldova also strengthened emergency preparedness and response through enhanced coordination across government institutions. Further advancing multisectoral coordination, preparedness, and risk communications also remains a priority. We fully recognize One Health as a cornerstone of effective pandemic prevention and preparedness, and are willing to advance cooperation across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors. The Republic of Moldova also supports ongoing efforts to strengthen the global health architecture and the effective implementation of the International Health Regulations. Information sharing, scientific cooperation, capacity building, and international solidarity remain indispensable for effective preparedness and response. No country can achieve health security on their own. We further emphasize the importance of equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other medical countermeasures, particularly for the most vulnerable populations and countries. The progress achieved would not have been possible without strong international partnerships, including with the World Health Organization and the United Nations system, international financial institutions, development partners, and bilateral donors. These partnerships remain essential to translating global commitments into sustainable national capacities and tangible results.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Moldova. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana.

Madam President, the consequences of pandemics are global. The pathogen needs no passport. It only asks humanity one question. Are we prepared? COVID-19 gave us a painful answer. The World Health Organization estimates that 14.9 million excess deaths were associated with the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Families lost loved ones, schools closed, livelihoods and health systems were shaken. Indeed, the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo reminds us that the next threat demands vigilance now. Ghana therefore welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the strengthened international health regulations. The cost of preparedness is smaller than the price of panic. In Ghana, our national action plan for health security is strengthening surveillance, laboratories, and emergency coordination. Our experience with COVID-19, cholera, and other outbreaks has taught us this. Preparedness cannot be switched on when a crisis arrives. It must be part of our primary health care system. So, what must we do together? First, finance readiness before the emergency. Sustained support should follow country-led plans and help keep frontline surveillance, laboratories, and response teams ready. Second, make equity arrive on time. Vaccines, diagnosis, and treatments must reach people when they are needed, supported by technology, partnerships, regional manufacturing, dependable supply chains. Third, protect the people who protect us. Train and equip health workers, plan for rapid deployment, and sustain essential care during an outbreak. And fourth, connect our response. Excellencies, our preparedness will be judged in local clinics, laboratories, and communities. Can we detect and track early? Can every country obtain the tools to respond? and a mother still receive care whilst an outbreak strains the system. Let us make preparedness a permanent investment. When the next pathogen comes, let history record that we were prepared. Ghana stands ready to work with all member states and partners. Thank you for the opportunity.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ghana, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Tanzania.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I hereby stand on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, and we align with the statement of the African Group. Pandemics do not wait for our negotiations, procedures, or borders. A health threat everywhere can quickly become a threat everywhere. Tanzania welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulation 2005. We also call for the timely conclusion of the pathogen access and benefit sharing annex. The true test of these instruments will be equity. Countries that rapidly share pathogens and information must also have timely and affordable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Global solidarity cannot mean sharing risks equally while lifesaving products remain concentrated in few countries. In Tanzania's progress in pandemic preparedness, Tanzania has acted on the lessons of COVID-19 and recent outbreaks. We have strengthened emergency operation centers, cross-border surveillance, laboratories, and rapid response capacities. We also are advancing the One Health approach and strengthening health system anchored in primary health care and the universal health care coverage, while protecting essential services, particularly immunization, maternal, and child health. Three priorities require our political leadership. First, preparedness must be financed before crisis breaks. Domestic resources remain essential, but developing countries need predictable and additional international support. We must adequately finance the WHO, World Health Organization, and ensure that preparedness financing does not deepen our debt distress. Second, Africa must be able to produce more of the health products it needs. Technology transfer, access to know-how, stronger regulatory capacity, and sustainable investment in local manufacturing are essential. When the next health emergency strikes, vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics must reach every region rapidly and equitably. Third, The global health architecture must become simpler and more accountable. International initiatives should support country-led plans and reduce duplication and measure success by financing delivered, capacity built, and inequities reduced. Tanzania will continue working with the African Union, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community to strengthen cross-border surveillance, information sharing, and mutual assistance.

Excellencies, let this political declaration move us from preparedness and from inequity to solidarity.

The next pandemic will not.

I thank the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic.

Chair, Excellencies, colleagues. We are brought together with a common responsibility of caring for our peoples given future pandemics. COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic. We don't know when the next one will hit. We must be prepared as of now through resilient health systems, solid primary care, laboratories, diagnostics, early warning, and prepared and protected staff. The agreement must translate commitments into measurable results. We reaffirm the sovereignty of states, and this should be applied with respect for legal and constitutional frameworks and health priorities. On that basis, we must strengthen international and regional health organizations to support national capacities and respond to the realities of each country. To conclude this, we'll turn these principles into real preparedness. The true risk is to face the next pandemic without a common framework, to have essential health is important, protect ecosystems and coordinate more effective and less costly sectors. This is better than reacting to crisis. The region also needs more capacity to investigate and innovate. Access cannot depend on the place where someone is born or the available resources in a given country. Developing countries and small island states face financial restrictions and climate exposure. We need sustainable financing. We support the effective application of the international health regulations in accordance with the tenets of every state. The Dominican Republic will continue to make progress on the surveillance preparedness human talent and regional cooperation. Excellencies, may COVID-19 be the last pandemic which finds us without necessary preparedness. Health emergencies know no borders. No country can face them by itself. We must begin with solid national capacities based on frank human cooperation with solidarity, always people-centered. The time to act is now. Tomorrow is too late. Each delay leaves us more vulnerable. To prepare together today means protecting each person, family, and to ensure that no one is left behind when the next emergency occurs. Health will be and the future of our peoples require us to be united and prepared. Thank you.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kiribati.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, greetings from Kiribati. Kiribati welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting and the opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. We also acknowledge the leadership of the World Health Organization and the collective effort that advanced global health security, including progress toward pandemic agreements and strengthening of international health regulations. The theme of this meeting is both timely and important. It reminds us that pandemic preparedness is a shared responsibility and must be grounded in multilateral cooperation, equity, solidarity, and our collective duty for future generations. For such as geography, remoteness, dispersed population, and reliance on the international supply chain present unique challenges during public health emergencies. These vulnerabilities are increasingly compounded by the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, flooding, droughts, and saltwater intrusion, which can place additional pressure on health system and emergency response system. Against this backdrop, Kiribati remains committed to strengthening national preparedness through enhanced policy and legal frameworks, improved preparedness and response planning, stronger coordination mechanism, and continued investment in resilient health system and workforce capacity. We acknowledge that preparedness requires sustainable effort and partnership, including regular testing of system learning from experience and promoting a whole of governments and all of society approach. The lesson of COVID-19 continues to guide our effort. The pandemic underscored the importance of resilient health system, timely information sharing, reliable supply chains and undisrupted access to essential health system, health services. This lesson also demonstrates that global solidarity is not the principle, but the practical necessity. Madam Chair, as we look ahead, equity must remain at the heart of global preparedness agenda. All countries, regardless of their size, geography or level of development, should have timely access to essential health product technologies, knowledge and sustainable financing, strengthening national capacities and fostering meaningful International cooperation will be critical in ensuring a safer and more resilient future for all. Kiribati stands ready to work with Member States and the WHO to advance more equitable resilience and coordinated global health system, ensuring that no country and no community is left behind. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kiribati, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bahrain.

Madam President, your excellencies, good afternoon. Health emergencies have indicated that health risks do not know borders. Prevention, preparedness and response constitute a common responsibility that requires international obligation and multilateral cooperation based on solidarity and information sharing, as well as preventive health systems able to detect these risks in advance and to respond to them in a manner that preserve the development gains. Kingdom of Bahrain appreciates the efforts made by the international community since the high-level meeting of 2023, particularly the regulations of 2023. and WHO agreement being two important instruments to foster international efforts to respond to the endemics. We must build on this progress and translate it into practical steps that takes into consideration national peculiarities and help states advance. Benefiting from the lessons derived from health emergencies is a main pillar for future efforts through a national effort and endeavors. During the COVID-19, we persisted in coordination of national efforts, the government institutions throughout the health system. And we paved the way for establishing and building infrastructures as well as qualified national cadres and health digital transformation in response to the endemic, we also employed health data to support decision taking as well as taking care of remote care, health care to the citizens and the residents. The Kingdom of Bahrain continues to support its preparedness in responding to future endemics, testing these and the sound is cut off.

Distinguished representative of Bahrain. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Armenia.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it's a great honor to address the UNGA at this pivotal high-level meeting. Today, we assemble under a theme that strikes at the core of our shared global responsibility. fostering a multilateral approach to protect humanity from pandemics and public health emergencies through the unshakable principle of equity and solidarity. This vital dialogue carries profound significance for Armenia because we served as one of the co-facilitators for the UN negotiations on the draft of political declaration on the PPPR. And I want to thank all the member states, WHO, and all the stakeholders for their efforts and constructive work during the facilitation process. The political declaration before us today sends a clear message. Pandemic preparedness is not a merely technical healthcare sector concern. It is a vital, shared political obligation. In Armenia, we are actively translating these principles into structural reality by advancing UHC following the adoption of our comprehensive framework, marking 2026 as a historic milestone with the launch and implementation of our insurance reforms. This national transformation is designed to expand equitable access to quality health care, strengthen financial protection, and decisively reduce out-of-pocket burdens for households. By placing people at the centre, our national reforms are anchoring the understanding that health is a fundamental human right. excellencies, true solidarity requires concrete guarantees that medical countermeasures, including safe vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics are developed, manufactured, and distributed affordably and equitably, ensuring that developing nations and vulnerable populations are never left behind. Let us turn our shared political commitments into measurable intergenerational action, ensuring that our global health architecture is equitable, transparent, and fully equipped for the future, and use this pivotal moment to adopt the PPPR political declaration. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Armenia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Singapore.

Excellencies, post-COVID-19 crisis, the members of WHO had a plan to prepare for the next pandemic. It involves negotiating and developing a unifying global framework for preparedness and equitable access. So the WHO Pandemic Agreement becomes that common framework to facilitate better sharing of pathogen information and provide access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. But there's a problem, which is that the Pandemic Agreement in itself does not address the issue of demand for vaccines exceeding supply during a pandemic crisis. Hence, we also need a plan B, which is to build sustainable regional manufacturing resilience. And this is an ongoing effort, where regions identify their needs and strengthen capabilities across research, manufacturing, supply chains and regulation. But it is not easy. The most effective vaccine may be discovered in any one of the thousands of laboratories in the world. And when that happens, there is a process of licensing, technological transfer, of having the right vaccine production platform. And these are processes that are not straightforward. In addition, these capacities must be ever-warm in peacetime and ready for activation during a crisis. And hence, we also need a Plan C, one that leverages on global networks. And this is where Singapore can make a focused contribution. First, we work with GZ to facilitate the sharing of genomic data across countries. Second, we support CEPI's 100-day mission to develop safe, effective, and accessible vaccines when a pandemic threat is identified. And third, we set up flexible biofoundries, which can produce vaccines across all technological platforms and work with partners to scale up production during a crisis, to supply to our region and the world, because Singapore's needs are very small. Taking this approach, Hilleman Laboratories, which is a JV between MSD and Wellcome Trust in Singapore, will be producing for clinical trials a vaccine for Ebola Bundibugyo virus by the end of the year. If successful, arrangements have been made for production to be scaled up. The next pandemic is an evolutionary certainty. Preparedness is a living capability. Let us do all the right things and do things right to build a safer and more resilient world. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Singapore, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Jamaica welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this important discussion on fostering a multilateral and intergenerational approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response grounded in equity and solidarity. COVID-19 taught us that no country can protect itself from a pandemic in isolation. It taught us that while pandemics are global, their consequences are not experienced evenly. For Jamaica, as a small island developing state, the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in our health systems, supply chains, workforce capacity, and fiscal space. It also demonstrated how quickly a health emergency could become an economic and social crisis. Jamaica, therefore, welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement and its emphasis on equity, solidarity, international cooperation, and respect for national sovereignty. But Jamaica wishes to emphasize one fundamental point. The success of the pandemic agreement will not be determined by the strength of its principles, but by the strength of its implementation. We must move from equity as a principle to equity as an implementation mechanism. For Jamaica and other SIDS, this means that pandemic preparedness cannot become an unfunded mandate. We need predictable and sustainable financing to build and maintain surveillance, laboratory systems, resilient health systems, and a capable workforce, not only during a crisis. We need practical mechanisms that ensure timely, affordable, and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, particularly when global demand exceeds supply. We need supply chain and logistics arrangements that recognize that particular geographic realities of island states. Meaningful technology transfer is also critical, not simply access to technology, but the knowledge, skills, financing, and sustainable capacity required to use it effectively. Jamaica also attaches particular importance to the pathogen access and benefit sharing system. If countries are expected to share pathogen materials and sequence information rapidly for the benefit of the world, then the benefits generated by that sharing must also reach those countries equitably. This is essential to maintaining trust and solidarity. Jamaica further believes that regional resilience is an important component of national resilience. For CARICOM and other SIDS, regional approaches to procurement, laboratories, surveillance, regulation, manufacturing, stockpiling, and emergency logistics can significantly strengthen our collective capacity. Excellence is the theme before us, speaks not only to solidarity among countries, but also to our responsibility to future generations. We have an opportunity to build a global pandemic architecture that does not reproduce the inequalities experienced during COVID-19. Jamaica is not asking for special treatment. We're asking for an implementation architecture.

I thank the representative of Jamaica. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Croatia.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an honor to speak on behalf of the Republic of Croatia at this High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. The recent pandemic reminded us, as all we have said, is a simple but powerful truth: global health security is a shared responsibility. Pandemics do not stop at borders. At the same time, we believe that strong national efforts, supported by the advanced tools now available to us, pave the way for more effective collective action. Excellencies, for Croatia, preparedness is a responsibility we take seriously. We continue to invest in prevention and immunization, strong public health services, and resilient health systems. We are also investing in digital transformation, health infrastructure, and our health workforce to strengthen resilient health system. Prevention, however, must remain at the very heart of how we protect our society. This principle is also part of the enduring legacy of Andrija Stampar, a Croatian physician and one of the pioneer of modern public health. His accessible public health services at the center of protecting communities and improving public health. His legacy remain relevant today. Preparedness is built in time of peace, not only in response to crisis, as pandemic do not wait for us to be ready. Excellencies, the time is to act now. We must continue strengthening prevention and early warning system, investing in research and innovation, and building the capacity and partnership needed to respond rapidly and effectively. It is equally important to show responsibility for the action undertaken to achieve tangible process. Pandemic preparedness is ultimately about fostering a culture of prevention, cooperation and shared responsibility, so that the lessons of the recent pandemic lead to us lasting improvements in how we protect our people and communities. In this spirit, Croatia supports the objective of the political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. in the hope that together with our partners, we can help build a healthier, more resilient, and better prepared world for future generations. Thank you a lot.

I thank the distinguished representative of Croatia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Botswana.

Assembly, Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Dumelang, good afternoon. From the outset, Botswana welcomes the continued high-level political focus on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that pandemics are not only health emergencies, they are social, economic, and development emergencies that can reverse hard-won gains and deepen existing inequalities. We therefore reaffirm that pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response requires sustained political leadership, global solidarity, multilateral cooperation, and strong national ownership. Our actions must be science and evidence-based. while upholding equity, human rights, and the dignity of all people. Botswana welcomes the progress made in PPR, including the adoption by the World Health Assembly of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations of 2005. We look forward to the timely conclusion of the negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Annex and to the subsequent implementation of these instruments. President Botswana considers resilient health systems anchored in primary health care to be the foundation of pandemic preparedness. Preparedness cannot be built as a parallel system. It must strengthen surveillance, laboratories, infection prevention and control, risk communication, routine immunization, essential medicines, and other routine health services while ensuring continuity of care during emergencies. Trust, effective risk communication, and meaningful community participation are essential. Botswana's experience during COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that financial capability alone does not guarantee access to medical countermeasures during emergencies. Critical moments, global supply chains are unequal, and unequal access create significant constraints. We therefore call for systems that prioritize sustainable, affordable, safe, effective, and timely access to medical countermeasures, particularly for developing countries. Botswana strongly supports investment in geographical, diversified, local, and regional research, development, and manufacturing capacity. Strengthening African capacity for the production, regulation, and procurement of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnosis, and other essential health products will reduce vulnerability to disruptions in global supply chains. For Botswana and other developing countries, equity must also extend to the benefits arising from the use of pathogens and pathogen sequence information with pandemic potential. Pandemic preparedness must be viewed as an investment, not an expenditure that can be deferred until an emergency occurs. Botswana supports stronger and more sustainable domestic financing.

I thank the distinguished representative of Botswana. And I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mali.

Madame Chair, ministers, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to convey the warm greetings of His Excellency, Army General Assimi Goita, President of the Transition, Head of State and of the people of Mali. The delegation of Mali hails the efforts of Rwanda and Azerbaijan, and we endorse the statement delivered by Burundi on behalf of the African Group. Madam Chair, pandemics and public health emergencies do not have any borders and they have no age. They thus require a coordinated response from all stakeholders. Pandemics must be addressed according to a comprehensive approach, an approach that incorporates human, animal, and environmental health. With that in mind, Mali has strengthened the implementation of the One Health approach. That's an approach considered to be an essential element to prevent zoonotic diseases, combat antimicrobial existence, improve health security of food, and mitigate the impact of climate change on health. In parallel, my country has continued to beef up its capacity for epidemiological surveillance, its laboratory capacity, and its capacity to manage public health emergencies, and we've increased our human resources. Mali has also taken multiple steps to strengthen international and regional cooperation with an emphasis on cross-border cooperation. We've been working to guarantee equity, in particular, in terms of access to vaccines, medications, and diagnostics. We've institutionalized intergenerational responsibility, and we're training rapid intervention teams and equipment, emergency medical teams, and we're drawing on the lessons learned from previous epidemics like Ebola, COVID-19, measles, and meningitis. International health security cannot be sustainable unless it is rooted in international solidarity, especially through sustained financing. This means we must invest in health systems, in our young people, in local production of health products, and in cross-border cooperation. Mali reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism with respect for fairness. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mali, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia.

Thank you, Madam President.

Clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted the structural vulnerabilities of our international systems, in particular, supply chains for healthcare goods. Rapid, effective, and efficient responses are needed. This means what is indispensable is a new health architecture at the global level that is in step with contemporary challenges. Aware of the urgency of global reforms in this regard, the President of the Republic of Tunisia Professor Saeed has called since April for pandemic prevention. And with 26 other heads of state, he published an editorial published on March 30th, calling for the adoption of a new international treaty on pandemic prevention preparedness. and calling for the establishment of global health architecture to assist future generations in order to ensure equitable access to vaccines, thereby promoting international cooperation beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed for the launching in December of a process of negotiating on an agreement on an international instrument in the WHO to address pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. After three days of negotiation, the instrument was adopted pending the annex on the benefit sharing. This illustrates significantly the strong role played by multilateral diplomacy in responding to humanitarian global challenges, medical challenges. But the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the deep inequality it revealed motivated the member states of the WHO to bring their positions together on sensitive issues like vaccine access, treatment, technology transfer, and financing. This approach, Madam Chair, also shows that when confronted with health threats, diplomatic action remains an essential tool to transform our concerns-- microphone has been cut off.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tunisia. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sudan.

Thank you, Madam. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, God's peace and blessings be on you. We welcome the convening of this high level meeting. We hope that the final document will be translated into immediate practical measures that correspond with our priorities. challenge today is not only in deriving lessons from COVID-19 and facing the fatal epidemics in armed conflicts and vulnerable environments. We thank the African Union and coordinators to reflect the priorities of our continent. The Sudan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and medical crisis because of the hostile war that led to the erosion of the health system, sewage system as well. The preparedness for epidemics is not a mere preparedness for the future, it is a daily battle which we engage in every day to save thousands and millions from malaria and other diseases that hit the society of the displaced and the refugees that lack the basic medical services. The malnutrition in the conflict areas requires a new concept of global response. There must be unconditional access to the medical services in an affordable manner.

supporting the national emergencies to help the more vulnerable categories and the displacement camps. We appreciate the considerable efforts by the medical cadres and medical workers who work in very difficult conditions. The situation in Sudan proves that medical systems and the developing countries cannot continue given the high level of debts and fragilities and we call upon the international community.

I think the distinguished representative of Sudan I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan.

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Zambia is pleased to contribute to the agenda on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Zambia believes that pandemic preparedness must be built, financed, and tested before the next crisis. The COVID-19 experience showed that a health emergency can quickly become an economic, social, developmental emergency. It also exposed deep inequalities in access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other life-saving technologies. We must therefore move from responding to crisis to proactively investing in systems, institutions, and partnerships that can prevent, detect, and contain threats at their earliest stages. The following three points are very important. One, we must measure preparedness by performance. Through national health security assessments, the 717 approach, and our national simulation exercise framework, Zambia is working to ensure threats are detected daily, reported promptly, and met with an effective response. Preparedness cannot be judged solely by the existence of plans or institutions. It must be judged by whether those systems function quickly enough when lives depend on them. Regular assessments, simulation exercises, corrective actions, and sustainable financing are essential to closing the gaps that emergencies expose. Health security is multi-sectoral and regional. Zambia's experience with cholera, mpox, measles, polio, and other emergency threats demonstrates that no country or sector can prepare alone. Human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected, and cooperation must be established before an emergency. Cross-border surveillance preparedness at cross points or entry information sharing, laboratory collaboration and coordinated response are particularly important for Zambia and its neighbors. Regional solidarity strengthens national security while national capacity helps protect the regions as a whole. Number three, equity must be operational. Zambia, like other developing countries, requires predictable financing, meaningful technology transfer, local research and manufacturing capability, and fair access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Technology transfer must include knowledge, skills, technical expertise, regulatory capacity, and manufacturing capacity, not equipment alone. Zambia is making efforts to...

I thank the representative of Zambia. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, It's great honor for me to address this high-level meeting on behalf of the Kyrgyz Republic. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent outbreaks have clearly demonstrated that biological threats do not stop at national borders. No country can be safe until all countries are safe. The Kyrgyz Republic fully supports the central coordinating role of the World Health Organization in strengthening the global health architecture and welcomes the progress towards WHO pandemic agreement and amendments to the international health regulations. Our priority now must be to move from commitment to practical and sustainable action. Distinguished colleagues, for developing and landlocked countries, equity is at the heart of pandemic preparedness. It's not only a principle of solidarity, but a fundamental element of global health security. We therefore call for the timely finalization of the pathogen access and benefit sharing system. The sharing of pathogen samples and biological data must be linked to timely and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines, as well as technology transfer and the development of local production capacities. Allow me to briefly highlight the experience of the Kyrgyz Republic. First, we are strengthening the One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health into national surveillance and preparedness mechanisms. Second, we are transforming primary health care and digital health system through digital tools, including Sanary Clinic. We are strengthening epidemiological surveillance and enabling more timely and transparent health information management. Third, with the support of international partners, including the Pandemic Fund, We are modernizing regional laboratory networks and investing in protection, training, and preparedness of our healthcare workforce. Excellencies, the political declaration resulting from this high-level meeting must help us break the cycle of panic and inaction. the Kyrgyz Republic reaffirms its commitment to multilateral cooperation, solidarity, and universal health coverage. Only through collective action by governments, international organizations, science, and civil society, we can build a safer, more equitable, and resilient future for all. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Barbados.

Good afternoon. During COVID-19, Barbados, a small island, helped repatriate thousands of cruise ship passengers and cruise ship crew workers who were stranded at sea. We watched as governments closed their borders and kept ships offshore, trying to protect their people from a threat they did not yet understand. But we also saw what countries could do when they work together. That experience and the experience of those international outbreaks that we've seen since then leave us as Barbados with three convictions about what we must do now. First, let us complete a balanced PAPS, Annex, and WHO pandemic agreement. When a country detects a pathogen with pandemic potential, the world needs it to share that information quickly. That country must be able to trust that sharing will help protect not just its own people, but that the resulting tests, treatments, and vaccines will reach them in time. Simply put, the country that raises the alarm must never be those that are left waiting for protection. Second, we must ensure that countries have the fiscal space to ensure that a crisis is responded to before it even arrives. Preparedness in many of our countries cannot depend on what remains in a national budget after every other urgent priority has been met. So an agreement on access will not give every country the capacity to prepare. That is why also here in this framework, I propose a pandemic preparedness development compact to support the actual implementation of the agreement. This compact should bring health and finance leaders, development banks, regional institutions, private partners, and philanthropy around practical investment plans in support of medical products manufacturing and regional supply chains that also connect to global supply chains. Every country and every life, wherever they are, must matter. We must create fiscal space for countries to maintain surveillance and laboratory readiness between emergencies and provide financing that can be released quickly when a threat appears. For small islands like ours, preparedness cannot depend on finding money alone. We must strengthen our preparedness. Finally, we must share the capacity to protect people. We cannot speak credibly about preparedness while health professional shortages leave countries struggling to find staff. Let us make trust, differentiated support systems, blended accessible financing, and shared capacity the foundation of our next response, starting now by completing the PAPS while we still have the political will to do so, because all of these outbreaks are so fresh in all our minds. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Barbados, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sweden.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Sweden aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union and its member states. Three years ago, many of us gathered here with memories that were still raw of loss, of disruption, and of how quickly a health crisis can reshape every corner of our societies. We made a commitment to learn, to act, and to leave the world better prepared for what may come next, not only for ourselves, but for the generations that will follow. There is real progress to recognize here. The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement in 2025 was a genuine milestone. The revised International Health Regulations are in force. These are foundations worth building on. And yet, experience also tells us something more sobering: political attention tends to recede once the immediate crisis has passed. Preparedness quietly slides down the list of priorities. The theme of this meeting, a multilateral and intergenerational approach grounded in equity and solidarity, is a reminder that this work does not have a finishing line. This year, the Swedish government submitted a legislative proposal to strengthen Sweden's national pandemic preparedness, translating our commitments from 2023 into domestic law. We believe pandemic preparedness requires a whole of government approach. It should be built on health policy, economic planning, and broader preparedness efforts alike. We also believe that preparedness is only as strong as its weakest link. Equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments is not only a matter of fairness, it is the logic of collective security. A world where some are protected and others are not is a world that remains vulnerable for all. We also need a global health architecture that is coherent, coordinated, and capable of delivering where it matters most, reducing fragmentation and strengthening cooperation across institutions will be essential if we are to respond effectively to future health emergencies. Sustaining the multilateral system that makes coordinated actions possible, the reformed WHO, effective international health regulations, and a One Health approach that connects human, animal, and environmental health is part of that same responsibility. Sweden remains determined to strengthen all of this work. And we hope today's meeting can be a moment of renewed shared commitments. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sweden. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Panama.

Chair, distinguished delegates, the Republic of Panama joins this plenary under resolution 79333 of this Assembly and reaffirms its commitment to the preparedness and response to future pandemics. The experience with COVID-19 taught us that preparedness begins before an emergency occurs. We need resilient health systems, surveillance, and detection of risks on time. Panama has a national system of epidemiological surveillance, which integrates cases, laboratories, events, and rapid response. We have applied this to dengue, malaria, and Oropouche. The Gorgas Commemorative Institute has developed capacities of genomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. As part of our commitment, the Ministry of Health adopted the approach of 7-1-7 through a national plan to detect a warning in seven days, to notify it in one day, and to respond in the following seven days. Preparedness requires working together. Panama believes that it is a priority to strengthen technical cooperation, regional laboratory networks, specialized training, and the timely exchange of epidemiological and genomics information. This cooperation must support national capacities, facilitate the experiences, and respond to the priorities of state with respect for sovereignty. Because of its strategic position and connectivity, Panama makes available to the region its logistical regional center of humanitarian assistance to help in organizing cooperation, facilitating timely and equitable access to vaccines, therapies, diagnostics, and other inputs. We also think it essential to make progress on implementing the pandemic agreement of the WHO, and the amendments to the international health regulations. These instruments strengthen the capacities of states and promote more collective and coordinated responses. We reaffirm our commitment to the One Health approach, which recognizes the links between human, animal, and environmental health. to a future pandemic will be the one that we organize together before it occurs. Panama will work together with Member States and its partners to turn commitments into technical cooperation, sustainable capacities, and concrete actions. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Panama. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Health systems should give a more comprehensive response to the next pandemic. A reflection of the unjust international economic order that reproduces and multiplies the wealth of the wealthiest people in the world to the detriment of quality health services and the health of the poorer people. We need to have solid institutions and universal health coverage of high quality. And in order to do this, we also need to address not just the symptoms, but the causes of this health inequality. We should also strengthen international cooperation for the South. We must put an end to unilateral coercive measures and the cruel blockade affecting health services, making the sick the greatest victims. Well, with silence, silent bombs, as we heard, as we learned from Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution in 2026, we know that the year was particularly difficult for the Cuban healthcare system as a result of the unprecedented strengthening of the blockade imposed by the United States and the energy blockade that is holding hostage the entire nation. And there are many indicators showing backsliding. More than 100,000 patients are on a waiting list for surgery, including more than 12,000 children. Almost 40,000 pregnant women have not received the scans that they need. the number of people dying of cancer has increased and in the case of children and young people survival of this disease has fallen from 85 to 65 percent only 30 percent of the basic medicines are available as a result of the problems due to the lack of energy and other things necessary to guarantee such services. There are huge delays in providing medical supplies to the ports of our region, and travel bans have prevented their shipping into Cuba. At the same time, the government of the United States is increasing its campaign of persecution against international medical cooperation by Cuban nationals. All of this is part of the policy of placing maximum pressure on the Cuban people. While this is causing a great deal of suffering, it will not succeed when it comes to making us give up. We will never yield, and we will continue to contribute to global efforts in the area of health.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Timor-Leste.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, as we review in 2023 political declaration, Timor-Leste calls for practical action rooted in equity and solidarity for a small island developing state. Preparedness depends on a strong national institution and cooperation that enables every country to detect threats early and respond effectively. We are building that capacity. In June 2025, our first cohort of 40 health professionals completed field epidemiology training, led by our National Institute of Public Health with international partners. They gained skills to identify unusual disease patterns investigate outbreaks, and guide a rapid response. Our next task is to turn these skills into dependable services. Stronger laboratories, community reporting, and emergency coordination must go together with protection for health workers. Maternal health, immunization, and treatment for chronic condition must continue during emergencies. Preparedness also requires trust. and participation across generations, young people, older persons and persons with disabilities should help shape plans and accessible public information. Government, institution, health workers, and community each have a role in putting this plan into practices. Timor-Leste supports stronger capacity under the International Health Regulation and continuing multilateral work on the WHO Pandemic Agreement in accordance with national processes. The One Health approach connects human, animal, plant, and environment health to identify risk before the spread. We encourage laboratory partnership, workforce exchanges, joint exercise and mutual assistance, timely sharing of information should have appropriate safeguards and be accompanied by equitably access to the benefit of research and innovation. Vaccine and diagnostic and treatment must reach country according to public health needs. This meeting should advance a concise action-oriented declaration with clear follow-up, building on WHO's coordinating role. Timor-Leste is ready to share its experience and learn from others. Our measure of progress must be early detection, effective response, and essential care that people can rely in every generation. I thank you.

I thank distinguished representative of Timor-Leste. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the United Arab Emirates is honored to participate in this meeting, reflecting our commitment to global health security. Health knows no borders. Protecting lives requires solidarity built on equity and cooperation. The question is no longer whether another health threat will emerge, but how prepared, coordinated, and equitable our response will be. COVID-19 taught us the importance of acting early, following the evidence, coordinating institutions, and building community trust. It showed that preparedness must be built before the crisis begins. Preparedness requires prevention, a capable health workforce, effective surveillance, and early warning and turning science and innovation into action. One Health must move from principle to practice. At COP28, we hosted the first ever health day at the UN climate conference, placing health at the heart of the climate conversation. No country can prepare alone. Pathogen sharing, scientific cooperation, and equitable benefits are essential. The UAE calls for equitable arrangements under Article 12 of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the timely conclusion of the PABIS annex negotiations and their adoption. Equity is preparedness. As a founding financial contributor to the Pandemic Fund, the UAE has put this into practice. We call on all partners to sustain and scale this investment. The next pandemic should not find the world waiting. It should find us ready. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire.

Chair, Cote d'Ivoire welcomes the holding of this high-level meeting on prevention, preparedness and response to pandemics. This is a matter of public health. My delegation aligns with the statement delivered by Burundi on behalf of the African group and we wish to add the following in our national capacity. Chair, pandemics and public health emergencies recall a fundamental reality. Against health threats, there is no nation that is truly secure when all are not truly secure. For Cote d'Ivoire, PPPR can only be envisaged at a national, cannot be envisaged only at a national scale. It must be part of a multilateral approach with solidarity and an intergenerational approach that is based on shared responsibility across states, international institutions, communities, civil society, the private sector and future generations. And therefore, we have adopted the following, we should therefore adopt the following strategy. First, we should make equity the cornerstone of corrective health security. Recent crises have shown that inequalities in access to vaccines, diagnostics, treatments, equipment and financing weaken the entirety of the international community. We should guarantee that each country is able to have the essential capacity needed to prevent, detect and quickly respond to health threats. Secondly, we must reinforce health multilateralism. Indeed, pathogenic agents know no borders and our response must go beyond borders as well. Cote d'Ivoire supports international cooperation that is based on rapid sharing of information, trust, transparency, solidarity and respect for international commitments. Thirdly, our preparation must be intergenerational. Preparing for future crises means investing today in future generations, the men and women who will have to answer in the future, we should hand to future generations the competencies necessary in epidemiology, emergency management, research, innovation and leadership. In Cote d'Ivoire, this vision has led to a strengthening of our national emergency health response centre through a centre of operations, consolidation of the national capacity and the One Health approach that recognizes the interdependence between human health, animal health, and environmental health. Our conviction is clear. Preparation is an investment. Equity is a condition for efficacy, and solidarity is a requirement for collective security. In conclusion, we should build a healthcare multilateralism that leaves no country, no community, and no generation behind, because preparing the world for the pandemics of the future means protecting us for our common future from today.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Côte d'Ivoire. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Haiti.

President, Excellencies, Heads of Delegation, ladies and gentlemen. A pandemic starts as a threat, but it very quickly becomes a test of justice between nations. COVID-19 reminded us of a simple reality. We face the same threats, but we don't have the same means of tackling them. We don't have the same monitoring capacity. We do not have the same access to vaccines, to medicine, to diagnosis and to technology. For Haiti, this is a very relevant issue. Our country is strengthening its preparation in a difficult environment. We are facing significant structural constraints. We're facing natural disasters, population displacement and a lot of pressure on essential services. But epidemics don't wait for countries to be ready. This is why we need a paradigm shift. We need to invest before the crisis, invest in laboratories, epidemiological monitoring, early warning systems, we need to invest in in resources, in rapid response teams and in information systems, and we need to invest in making our health infrastructure more resilient. Yes, preparing for a pandemic has a cost, but not preparing for a pandemic has an even higher cost. It costs in human lives, in development and instability. There is something else that we absolutely need and that is international solidarity. This solidarity cannot only appear when the emergency breaks out. Equity needs to start before the next pandemic. It needs to be there in the financial mechanisms, in technology transfer, in knowledge sharing and in lasting long-term capacity building. Countries with limited resources also need to be able to fully participate in the decisions that have an impact on their own health security. For Haiti, preparation also needs to have a regional dimension. Pathogens know no borders, as security therefore depends on how able we are to quickly share information, how able we are to coordinate our interventions and strengthen our cooperation with countries in the Caribbean and our partners. Excellencies, the real test of health multilateralism will not be the quality of our statements here. The test will be what will happen on the first day of the next emergency. Haiti supports a model that's based on shared responsibility and on scientific cooperation, on sustainable financing and on national capacity building. And above all, one that is based on equity because no nation can protect themselves alone. Our health security is interdependent.

I thank the distinguished representative of Haiti. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, in 2023, We committed to building pandemic preparedness on cooperation, solidarity, equity, and human rights. We agreed that no one is safe until everyone is safe, and that preparedness must be built before a crisis, not improvised during one. Three years later, we can ask whether this commitment has become real capacity. Poland welcomes the progress achieved so far. The amendments to the International Health Regulations and the ongoing WHO work on other pandemic-related instruments are major achievements. They provide a stronger foundation for coordinated and predictable action in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. However, Agreements alone are not enough. We must now focus on implementation. This means strengthening surveillance and early warning systems, investing in resilient health systems, supporting the health workforce, and ensuring sustainable financing for preparedness at national and global levels. We must also improve access to medical countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutic and diagnostics, and ensure that all countries are able to respond effectively when new threats emerge. With equity in mind, the question is how we move forward. The answer is through stronger health systems, sustainable financing, a well-supported health workforce, and effective international cooperation. For Poland, solidarity is not an abstract policy term. Solidarnosc, our historical social movement, taught us that resilience comes from standing together. In global health, that means one thing. No country can be safe without others being safe. Excellencies, the lesson is clear. Declaration matter, but only action proves them true. Poland supports a global health architecture that is member state driven, WHO coordinated and built an equity, solidarity and efficiency. Poland stands ready to work with partners to turn these commitments into practical preparedness and stronger protection for future generations. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Poland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Maldives.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you, President. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, COVID-19 taught us something brutal. Preparedness is the difference between choosing your future and having a crisis choose it for you. For the Maldives, the cost was staggering. In 2020, more than one third of our economic output vanished. Real GDP per person plunged by almost 35%, falling back to roughly its 2005 level. 15 years of progress lost in a single year. That is why preparedness must begin before the emergency. For the Maldives, geography makes that especially urgent. Our islands are dispersed and our economy is highly vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. For SIDS such as the Maldives, that means having the funds to act before a crisis arrives. Those funds must be sufficient, predictable, sustainable and aligned with national capacities. Yet unsustainable debt keeps shrinking the very fiscal space we need to prepare. Supplies must also arrive when they are needed. Vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines must reach every country without delay. For an import-dependent country like the Maldives, with geographically dispersed populations and limited surge capacity, excess promise is still far from excess delivered. And smaller health systems need capacity they can rely on skilled workers, stronger health facilities, and access to larger, robust surveillance and laboratory systems, timely information sharing, shared capacity in research and manufacturing. COVID-19 also showed us what coordination and trust can do. Our National Emergency Operations Center brought health and disaster management authorities together. Partnerships with the AIIB and World Bank strengthen our response. We are now developing our national health emergency response operations plan with WHO within our wider disaster management framework. The next pandemic should find the financing ready, the systems connected, the supplies accessible, and our people prepared. Strengthening implementation of international health regulations 2005 and enhancing regional and global cooperation remain essential to collective health security. Preparedness protects lives. It also protects years of progress and a country's freedom to choose what comes next. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Maldives. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uganda.

Mr. President, Uganda brings experience in the area of prevention, responding, and controlling the pandemics. The current Ebola outbreak from DRC spilled over to Uganda, and it was detected and announced before DRC did. It was possible to prevent the spread of of the outbreak in real time because of the following: number one, strong political will, elaborate community structure, skilled workforce, robust mobile laboratories network that were deployed whenever there is epidemic. And this included genomic sequencing in less than 24 hours that helped to characterize the outbreak. Strong community engagement, ownership, and trust is critical. Effective surveillance systems that operate through emergency operating centers across the country can only enhance information sharing and timely intervention. Strong intersectoral collaboration with development partners, implementing partners across the country through one budget, one health, one implementation plan, and one monitoring and evaluation is so important to coordinate the resources and activities. excellences, individual countries have responsibility also to budget for contingency epidemic financing and not purely rely on external financing, which many times delay and have preferential funding priorities. We call upon global partners to avail timely resources through contingency fund development to be flexible in the deployment of these funds based on the country's need, not what the partners need. Enhance cross-border collaboration through information sharing and enhance digital technology for information sharing. That will help us on early warning and detection. Lastly, Uganda has continued to avail itself to support the region, as we are doing right now in DRSC, and we are supporting also other member states. We continue to share our expertise, deployment of mobile labs and treatment units in the areas that are affected. We stand ready to continue supporting not only the region, but a continent in building resilience system to respond to epidemics. Thank you very much.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Uganda. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eritrea, I think. I beg your pardon, hold on. Eritrea, thank you.

Mr. President, recent health emergencies have shown that countries do not enter crisis with the same capacities or the same access to what they need. The WHO pandemic agreement and amendments to the international health regulations are important developments. The question now is whether they will make a practical difference when the next emergency comes. COVID-19 exposes serious gaps in access to medical products, technology, and production capacity. Developing countries cannot be expected to strengthen surveillance, laboratories, and emergency response without the necessary technology, expertise, and resources. Addressing these gaps requires greater regional manufacturing technology, transfer and local production are therefore essential. Intellectual property and commercial interests should not stand in the way of access to life-saving products. Unilateral coercive measures that restrict access to medicines, equipment, and financing also weaken national health systems. Mr. President, Eritrea's experience has shown the value of strong national ownership. Prevention and preparedness have been central to its health approach, supported by government leadership and community-based health systems. It is national action plan for health security further strengthens surveillance, emergency response and coordination. International cooperation should support, not replace, national capacity. It must also address the inequalities in technology, production and access that became so clear during COVID-19. The real measure of progress will be whether all countries are better able to protect their populations when the next health emergency comes. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Austria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bulgaria.

Mr. President, Excellencies, colleagues. Bulgaria aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the EU and its member states. Here, we have gathered again to vow our commitments to human health and well-being. Not once have we all voiced our concerns about acute health challenges. Today, the world is once again coming together to review the lessons of the past and shape a more secure future for generations to come. The political declaration addressed today reflects the urgent need for collective action, fostering a multilateral and intergenerational approach to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics and public health emergencies through the principles of equity and solidarity. Bulgaria welcomes the focus on national preparedness, the strengthening of health systems, surveillance, vaccination, a sustainable health workforce and the One Health approach, as well as on better international coordination. There should be added value to the amended International Health Regulations. The PAPS annex has to be finalized with reasonable and working provisions which will build on global preparedness. In a dynamic of constant change being the norm, global health issues take the new turns and await alternative solutions fit for tomorrow. Nevertheless, we should note with some concern that there are several elements that are still essential, namely technology transfer, which must be voluntary and on mutually agreed terms, balanced complementary international financing focused on accountability, efficiency, and resource mobilization. Pandemics do not recognize borders, ideologies, or political mandates. It is our collective duty to build an architecture for global health security that protects every citizen of the world equally. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bulgaria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Gabon.

Thank you, President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. COVID-19 brought home an essential truth. No country can guarantee their health security alone. COVID-19 also showed that international solidarity, equity in access to health tools and the development of all national capacities are crucial, all crucial to address the various global health challenges. In this context, Gabon has prioritized the resilience of its health system. in an initiative led by President His Excellency Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. Large-scale investment is underway to meet the goal of good quality health for all in Gabon by 2030. Beyond our national health insurance, which covers almost 90% of our population, we are continuing our efforts to consolidate healthcare provision across our entire country. Part of this includes strengthening and modernizing healthcare facilities and also using digital technology. Community healthcare is also covered. We have rebuilding local centers, coordinating deployment of different public health programs aimed at achieving the SDGs. Prevention, preparedness, and response to pandemics is also one of the major tenets of our work. year we set up the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. We've trained more than 55 national experts and deployed 90 focal points for monitoring across our 10 regions. The aim is to improve our capacities for anticipation, detection and response. Also, our country actively approaches an integrated One Health approach. through strengthening a legal framework, cooperation and development of specialized laboratories. This also benefits from support from all of our technical and financial partners, including the WHO, the Africa CDC, the World Bank and the Global Fund. Finally, Gabon would like to recall that health sovereignty should be underpinned by international cooperation. Africa's capacity to produce medicine and other health goods, technology transfer and development of innovative sustainable financing mechanisms for health is crucial. Excellencies, Gabon will continue to work for a global health safety system that is based on anticipation, resilience, solidarity and shared responsibility. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Gabon. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Portugal.

Chair, Excellencies, and colleagues, first allow me to express that Portugal aligns with statement of the European Union and would like to add the following in its national capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic left us with a lesson we cannot forget. Preparedness must be built long before an emergency emerges. It left us with a second lesson. National preparedness is indispensable, but no country can prepare or respond alone. This is why pandemic prevention, preparedness and response must remain a shared responsibility across countries, across society and between generations, guided by equity and solidarity before, during and after an emergency. We have taken important steps forward, the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amended International Health Regulations. Completing the PAVS annex is now essential to enable the rapid sharing of pathogens and sequence information matched by fair and equitable access to the resulting benefits, vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics that reach people according to need, not purchasing power. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo gives a human face to this responsibility. Behind the numbers are people, families, and communities facing an emergency in extremely difficult circumstances. It reminds us that preparedness is not abstract. It is measured in lives, and no one should be left behind because of where they live. Portugal has drawn on these lessons to strengthen its national health service and public health capacities, epidemiological and genomic surveillance, laboratory capacity, digital information systems, and the trained and adaptable workforce. This work must be all of government, all of society, and grounded in One Health with communities involved from the outset. It must also remain securely vested within public health services to ensure specialized knowledge, oversight, and continuity. Preparedness also requires sustainable and predictable financing. And because the next emergency will not be the moment to decide whether we are prepared, it will be the moment to demonstrate it. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I bring you warm greetings from the president of my country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigeria welcomes the adoption of the political declaration of this high-level meeting as a critical opportunity to renew global commitment to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Our national position is clear. Preparedness is strongest when it is built on systems that prevent, detect, and control infectious threats every day. We believe that prevention is preparedness, and it is strength of everyday public health systems determines how effective nations detect threats early, respond rapidly and maintain essential services during a crisis. Over the past decade, Nigeria has made significant progress, strengthened our legal and institutional foundations with expanded nationwide digital surveillance, institutionalized 717 approach, enhanced genomic sequencing capacity, and improved multi-hazard preparedness. Our public health laboratory network now covers all 36 states, and our public health emergency operation centers as supporting coordinated responses to infectious outbreaks like sasa fever, cholera, diptheria, meningitis, and others. Our joint external evaluation to measure our health security improved from 39% in 2017 to 54% in 2023. Nigeria is also advancing world health implementation, AMR governance, IPC programs across all states, and strengthen our emergency workforce at national and subnational level. Looking ahead, One, strengthen national ownership, governance, and legal preparedness, putting prevention at the center of preparedness, building integrated residents and one health systems, advancing equitable access, financing, and African manufacturing, and deepening regional and global solidarity and accountability. We call on the international community to place equity at the center of PPR. Pathogen access must be matched by fair, timely, and predictable benefit sharing, including vaccines that diagnostics and therapeutics. We support a holistic pandemic preparedness and response agenda that includes TB, malaria, HIV, and advocate for allocation of commensurate funding to such programs. Nigeria would like to discuss the AMR must remain embedded in global PPR as both present and public health threat and a pandemic threat multiplier. In that spirit, Nigeria will in December this year host the fifth global high-level ministerial conference on AMR, providing a platform to accelerate measurable One Health action and advance LMIC priorities. Nigeria affirms its commitment to strengthen national and regional capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats, and call for a global architecture that is equitable, sustainable, accountable, and aligned with nationally determined.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe.

Thank you, Mr. President. COVID-19 exposed profound weaknesses in health systems and inequities in access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, financing, and technology. Zimbabwe therefore recognizes that while preparedness is fundamentally a national responsibility, it cannot succeed in isolation. It requires international solidarity, particularly for developing countries facing... Sorry. It requires international solidarity, particularly for developing countries facing constrained fiscal space. debt burden and gaps in manufacturing and technology capacity. Preparedness requires adequate, predictable and sustainable financing. Domestic resource mobilization must be complemented by concessional financing, technical assistance and support responsive to national priorities. Equity must remain at the center of preparedness, prevention and response. Medical countermeasures should be allocated according to public health risk and need. We must continue investing in primary health care, surveillance, laboratories, early warning systems, routine immunization, water and sanitation, infection prevention and control, and training and retaining our health workers. Zimbabwe experience with COVID-19, cholera, cyclone Idai, measles, and Mpox has reinforced that preparedness must build before the emergency, sustained between emergencies, and continuously strengthened through evidence and learning. Zimbabwe has strengthened its national preparedness architecture through national ownership, risk assessment, and a multi-sectoral approach. We have undertaken regular International Health Regulations self-assessments and have had two joint external evaluations in 2018 and in 2025. In 2025, we also conducted the national hazard and risk mapping using WHO strategic tool for assessing risks. targeting preparedness investments towards populations and areas facing greater risks. Zimbabwe has actively participated in the development of the WHO Pandemic Agreement because we believe pandemic preparedness must be grounded in equity, solidarity, national capacity, and shared responsibility. We call for greater investment in local and regional research, development, manufacturing, particularly in Africa and other developing regions, meaningful technology transfer, Stronger regulatory systems and diversified supply chains are essential to health security. The sharing of pathogens and sequence information must be met by the timely and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of France.

President, Excellencies, France aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us that no country, however powerful, can address a global health emergency alone. Today, the DRC's Ebola outbreak is testing international multilateral systems that we came up with or revised after this pandemic. Experience has shown that when we use these tools, we can get tangible results in terms of prevention, preparedness and response to pandemics. That's the thinking behind the pandemic agreement adopted in May 2025. and France was honored to co-chair the intergovernmental negotiation body alongside South Africa for this. This commitment from France continued with our G7 presidency, promoting health sovereignty and sustainable financing for all. The adoption of the agreement on pandemics was a historic step forward in terms of multilateralism, health

Security and equity. It covers the whole cycle, prevention, preparedness and response to a pandemic. It covers it all with one objective, that of equity. It strengthens international collaboration and it takes the One Health approach. And France is pleased to have hosted the first summit on this approach. The pandemic agreement guarantees equitable access to health goods in the case of a pandemic with a mechanism for access to pathogens and sharing of benefits. This breaks with the imbalances of the past and it guarantees that solidarity and equity will not simply be a wish on paper but a concrete reality. We cannot lose what we've gained. It's been so important. The entry into force of this agreement depends on the adoption of the annex on access to pathogens and benefit sharing. This is currently being negotiated in Geneva. Six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot accept that we will have to face a new pandemic with the same level of vulnerability. With this annex as a safety valve, we have the opportunity of changing the status quo. Negotiation therefore on this annex is urgent and rest assured that France will do everything it can to ensure that negotiations on this annex can conclude swiftly because protecting people's health means ensuring peace, security, stability and a future for our societies. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of France. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, the Brazilian government express its discontent with the restrictions imposed by the host country that made impossible for the Brazilian Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, to be present here today. That said, ladies and gentlemen, we commend Armenia and Rwanda for their leadership and efforts throughout the negotiations, which led to the political declaration before us today. This declaration must serve as a foundation, not a ceiling, for our collective efforts and response. Brazil remains firmly guided by multilateral cooperation, global solidarity, equity, and full realization of the rights to health. COVID-19 taught us that there can be no global health security without equity, exposing profound disparities in access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other essential health technologies. It also underscored the importance of science, evidence-based decision making, and the need to know to counter misinformation and disinformation. For Brazil, preparedness means investing in resilient health systems, primary care, surveillance, vaccination, a qualified health workforce, and strong national and regional capacities. It also requires addressing inequalities in access to health technologies, Innovation without access is not innovation, is injustice. Local and regional production, technology transfer, and diversified supply chains are essential to collective health security. Excellencies, Brazil welcomes the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations. Brazil attaches particular importance to timely conclusion of negotiations on the PABs annex to the pandemic agreement. Sharing pathogen materials and sequencing information must go hand in hand with fair and equitable benefit sharing. At a time of increasing fragmentation and financial constraints, multilateralism remains our strong collective tool. Sustainable and predictable financing, particularly for developing countries, is crucial. Brazil stands ready to work with all member states to translate this declaration into concrete action, placing communities at the center and fostering participation, trust, and resilience. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

President, distinguished delegates, Mexico is attending this high-level meeting on the basis of a fundamental conviction, which is as follows: the next pandemic should not encounter the same inequalities, capacity gaps and access difficulties that were faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preparedness begins before the emergency with strong primary care that is the cornerstone of universal health care coverage and also timely surveillance, with properly prepared laboratories and with sufficient and trained healthcare personnel. We need resilient systems that maintain essential health services during an emergency. For Mexico, better preparedness means better prevention. This is why we are strengthening our early warning and detection system under the One Health approach. But no nation can face a pandemic threat on their own. Mexico reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism, to the World Health Organization, and to the International Health Regulations with full respect for the sovereignty of states, the WHO agreement on pandemics captures a central lesson from COVID-19, that scientific information should be shared quickly and its benefits must be shared fairly. For this reason, Mexico considers it a priority to swiftly reach agreement on an annex to the pathogen access and benefits sharing system, PABS, that is equitable, viable, transparent, and enforceable, and that allows the agreement to be open for signature. PABS should facilitate the rapid and timely exchange of materials and information on pathogen sequences with pandemic potential. And to the same degree, it should also ensure prompt, fair, and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from their use, including vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. Access and benefit sharing are inseparable responsibilities. Equity cannot be negotiated after the emergency has already begun. It must be incorporated into the system design. PABs should also recognize the sovereign rights of states over their biological resources and contribute to capacity building, technology transfer, and local and regional and geographically diversified production. We call for a redoubling of effort and will to engage in dialogue to reach agreement on the annex. Finally, we must put people at the center, incorporating participation of communities and youth. Preparedness must leave a legacy of stronger health systems, especially for those who live in situations of the greatest vulnerability. Mexico stands ready to share capacity and experience and to build agreements. Our health security is shared. We know this and this is why we call on all Member States to act in a constructive spirit with flexibility and also ambition so that the PABs negotiations reach a successful conclusion as soon as possible because preventing together, preparing together and responding equitably.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Suito.

Mr. President, Director General of the World Health Organization, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. At the outset, I wish to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important meeting, which provides a timely opportunity to strengthen global commitment towards preventing, preparing for, and responding to future pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed no country could confront pandemic threats in isolation. The pandemic exposed structural deficiencies in access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, financing and health technologies in our countries. These lessons must therefore guide our collective actions moving forward. The international community must ensure that the inequities witnessed during COVID-19, when countries faced significant delays in accessing life-saving vaccines and treatments, are avoided. Mr. President, Lesotho remains firmly committed to strengthening national preparedness and resilience. We are implementing the One Health approach, which recognizes the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health and importance of preventing zoonotic disease outbreaks before they become global crisis. Lesotho welcomes growing international recognition of One Health as the cornerstone of pandemic prevention and preparedness, however, knows that while progress has been made, significant challenges remain. Constrained fiscal space, fragmented health data systems, diverse effects of climate change and other humanitarian pressures amplify public health risk. There is therefore an urgent need to ensure that global commitments are matched by predictable, sustainable and equitable financing mechanisms that are accessible, responsive and aligned with national priorities. Fragmented health data is not only a preparedness gap, it is a digital governance gap. This week, our delegation took part in discussions on safeguards for digital public infrastructure, where consensus reached was clear, safeguards must be designed into a system from the outset, not added once it is running, and they hold only if the financing to sustain them is committed for the life of the system, not only at its launch. We believe this principle applies with particular force to health data, where fragmented and unsafeguarded systems slow the very detection and response the international community is gathered here to strengthen. In Lesotho, our experience building an interoperability platform connecting health services with identity, education, and social protection, safeguarded and privacy respecting by design, has shown us that well-governed data accelerates preparedness rather than compromising it. In this regard, Lesotho welcomes initiatives such as Pandemic Fund and partnerships with the World Health Organization and other development partners.

I thank the distinguished representative of Lesotho. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

President, colleagues. Resilient healthcare systems are a critical part of national security. The Russian health model, which is based on making it available and accessible free for all, has shown how effective it was during the pandemic. We, as a country with the skills and experience of tackling infections such as polio and smallpox, was aware of our global responsibility. Russia was one of the first to offer assistance to countries and started providing COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to 71 states. We shared technologies, we sent medical missions and laboratories. Russia has a significant arsenal of medicines and prevent for tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. And we also have a vaccine against Ebola. We continue to provide assistance in training for different countries for their medical personnel. During the pandemic, millions of people in the global south faced a critical asymmetry in access to prevention and treatment. Now it's clear that support for developing countries should be focused on not one-off activities but on ensuring technological sovereignty and their own production of medicines. That's the approach that will guarantee real equality and it should be the foundation of further work on the pandemic agreement. We also need flexible international mechanisms for regulating the the trade transfer of medical products, bureaucratic barriers and politicization should not stand in the way of saving human lives. To address these, it's important to ensure that lots of multifaceted work on strengthening the global architecture for healthcare and a central role of the WHO. On our side, we remain happy to share experiences and skills. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.

President, distinguished participants of the meeting. Six years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated global interdependence. The virus spread rapidly around the world, recognizing neither borders or people. However, instead of uniting, the world became divided. Borders were closed, most states withdrew into their own national fortresses and international trade as a whole dropped significantly. At the same time, a group of Western countries assumed the role of mentor, giving instructions to everyone else on how to behave: close your borders, halt production, drive your populations back to their homes. Moreover, by monopolizing the development of vaccines and controlling their distribution, the West essentially also gave itself the right to determine the final diagnosis. And this is nothing other than a corruption, serving the rent-making pharmaceutical corporations richer. With benefit of hindsight, it's obvious that the social and societal costs exceeded the benefits of the restrictions by order of magnitude. Belarus foresaw these risks at the time and therefore chose a different, more far-sighted path, remained open and actively advocated for common action. Minsk extended a helping hand to other states, ensuring an uninterrupted transit of humanitarian medical cargo, and we kept critically important production facilities running, while virtually all countries halted the operations of their airlines, Bellavia, the Belarusian airline, continued to operate flights evacuating both our citizens and foreigners from disaster zones. We maintained transport links. We proved that even in conditions of global chaos, solidarity and responsibility towards our partners are more effective than selfishness and self-isolation. This allowed us not only to preserve economic ties, but also to make a real contribution to food and logistical security. In 2021, we supported the idea of developing an international pandemic agreement. actively participating in the negotiations of this and submitting concrete proposals. However, today we can see that it is not possible to unite efforts. Thus, while experts are continuing to argue over the wording of the protocol to the agreement regulating the system of access to pathogens and benefit sharing, EU countries persist with a policy of sanctions that block access to vital medicines, vaccines and medical equipment for many countries. Therefore, we call for it to be clearly reflected in the protocol that people should refrain from introducing any restrictions on the supply of medical products during emergencies. Solidarity and global health must be expressed in a timely exchange of information, joint research, the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance, and, what is critically important, mutual support. Belarus is ready to work with all countries on these kind of approaches within the protocol. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belarus, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia.

President, Mr. Khalil Abdurrahman, may God's grace and blessings be upon you. Following the adoption of the first political declaration on the prevention or preparedness and response to pandemics, we reiterate our commitment to guarantee joint action and to consolidate international cooperation in order to strengthen national capacity in an enduring fashion. We thank the Secretary General of the General Assembly and all those who have worked on this matter. During our presidency of the G20, we worked to close the gap in the area of PPPR, who are pandemic fund, our experience nationally, notably during the pilgrimage season is a noteworthy example. There are many pilgrims who have flown into the country who were able to benefit from a comprehensive health system. We were able to manage the situation in cooperation with international organizations, and this preventative approach, of course, began long before the pilgrims arrived in close coordination with other states, and by setting up the necessary sanitary measures in order to strengthen our response, especially when it comes to cross-border diseases. We welcome the WHO agreement and also the amendments to international health regulations. This allows us to strengthen healthcare systems. Ladies and gentlemen, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Believes that this agreement should be a practical, pragmatic agreement, not just a commitment on paper, and This is why continued negotiations must continue in relation to the. Benefits sharing of this agreements. It is down to states to adopt a joint approach when it comes to health. It is worthwhile investing regionally and locally in order to ensure enduring supply chains for health materials. And we should take into account the priorities and national legislation in each state. By way of conclusion, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia renews its support for the international health system, and we stand ready. to continue participating, we're sharing our experience in order to strengthen decisions taken in this area. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cambodia.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Cambodia firmly believes that pandemics and public health emergencies cannot be prevented or managed by a single country. The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent emergencies taught us three important lessons. First, preparedness must be strengthened before a crisis occurs. As reflected in the health security agenda of the 79th World Health Assembly, sustained investment in international health regulations, core capacities, surveillance, laboratories, workforce readiness, risk communication, and emergency coordination remain essential. Second, whole of government, whole of society, and intergenerational coordination must be operational, regularly tested, and accountable. Cambodia's experience demonstrates the importance of received leadership, timely risk communication, community engagement, and multi-sector coordination and collaboration. Cambodia is advancing these priorities through its National Action Plan for Health Security and the Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee for One Health recognizing the close interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. Third, trust, transparency, equity, and solidarity are essential for collective actions. Timely notification, information sharing, joint risk assessment, and cross-border cooperation enable countries to act rapidly. Building on WHA 79, Cambodia calls for coherent implementation of the International Health Regulations and the WHO Pandemic Agreement, together with strengthened WHO emergency capacities and accountable multilateral cooperation. International support should align with country-led priorities. Cambodia remains committed to working with Member States WHO, communities, young people, civil society and partners to translate global commitment into measurable national preparedness, grounded action in equity and solidarity. When every country is better prepared, every country is safer. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cambodia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

Madam President, I thank you for convening this meeting. I welcome the political declaration and its vision and call for solidarity. Not long ago, the COVID-19 pandemic taught us a hard lesson. Countries did not suffer equally. Developing countries suffered more than others. Its impact was too huge for our health system to handle. International development community and national health systems did not have enough resources to meet the needs of affected people across countries. During COVID-19, some countries purchased vaccine in excess of their requirements. Some poor countries paid more than rich countries to procure vaccine. On top of that, even a global health emergency did not give them debt repayment relief. They had to continue repaying debt while failing to buy vaccines to save lives. Some countries did not even have the capacity to administer vaccines. Madam President, during health emergencies, trade embargoes and restrictions on the mobility of people cripple societies and economies. Developing countries and financially vulnerable people bear the biggest burden. To save lives during future pandemics, an equity-based approach in the following areas will remain essential. First, ensuring the availability of accessible and affordable vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and essential technologies for all, particularly developing countries. Second, strengthening the health systems of developing countries through enhanced international support, assistance, and cooperation, and in building One Health architecture in accordance with the amended International Health Regulations. Third, mobilizing predictable and sustainable financing for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. And fourth, promoting the local production of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics in diversified geographic locations, particularly in developing countries. Madam President, nobody is safe until everybody is safe during a pandemic. So let us advance pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response to measure to save lives of our present and future generations. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya.

Madam President, Kenya welcomes the 2026 High-Level Meeting and the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The political declaration before us must now move beyond aspiration to measurable, adequately financed and accountable implementation. Kenya speaks from hard-won frontline experience. In recent years, we have responded to cholera and Mpox while strengthening preparedness for cross-border threats, including Ebola and Marburg virus diseases. Our experience is clear, although the global architecture has improved since COVID-19, critical gaps in equity, financing, and health system resilience still remain. First, access and benefit sharing must be inseparable. The pathogen access and benefit sharing system must ensure that countries sharing pathogens and sequence information receive timely and predictable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Kenya supports rapid WHO access targeting at least 20% of real-time production, clear provisions on sequence information, and enforceable arrangements that deliver benefits when they are most needed. Countries that report outbreaks promptly must not face disproportionate, non-evidence-based measures that harm their people and economies. Second, equitable access requires regional capability. Africa must be able to research, develop, manufacture, regulate, and procure essential medical countermeasures. We call for sustained financing, meaningful technology, and know-how transfer, stronger regulation, pooled procurement, and reliable markets for African-made health products. Third, preparedness requires predictable financing before a crisis and rapid disbursement when one occurs. International financing must complement domestic investment without diverting resources from universal health coverage or essential services. The pandemic fund must be adequately capitalized, accessible, and responsive. Fourth, global health security must be anchored in resilient national systems. Primary and community healthcare, surveillance, laboratories, immunization, water and sanitation, infection prevention and control, action against antimicrobial resistance, One Health coordination, and an adequately supported workforce. International recruitment should be ethical and supported by partnerships that invest in the countries that train health personnel.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Egypt welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response at a critical time for global health security. For Egypt, pandemic preparedness is a national responsibility, a regional priority, and a shared global obligation. We have continued to strengthen our national capacities, supported by a One Health approach that connects human, animal, and environmental health. We are equally investing in resilient health systems and primary healthcare because preparedness does not begin with an outbreak. is declared, it begins with a strong health systems every day. Excellencies, Egypt attaches particular importance to the WHO Pandemic Agreement as a historic expression of multilateral solidarity and a collective commitment to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. In this regard, the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing, or PABS, annex is especially important, and Egypt aligns itself with the African group position. We must ensure that the rapid sharing of pathogens and scientific information is matched by the rapid, fair, and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use, including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, and that countries contributing pathogens and genomic information can meaningfully benefit from the products and technologies developed from them. Egypt calls for stronger and more sustainable financing for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. greater investment in local and regional manufacturing, technology transfer, resilient supply chain, health workforce capacity, surveillance and laboratory systems, and stronger regional cooperation. These investments must be country-led, predictable, and should strengthen existing health systems rather than create fragmented or parallel structures. Egypt also believes that the prevention must receive the same political attention as response. Madam Chair, Egypt reaffirms its full commitment to multilateral cooperation and stands ready to contribute to strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, regionally and globally. When the next pandemic comes, our success will not be measured only by how quickly we respond, but by how much suffering we have prevented. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait.

Madam Chair, ladies and gentlemen, excellencies, Kuwait welcomes this high-level meeting. We reiterate our commitment to support international efforts aimed at strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. COVID-19 has shown us that health threats know no borders and our collective security in this area depends on robust health systems and regional and international cooperation. COVID-19 also showed that it is worthwhile investing in prevention, preparedness and response. And this is why COI reiterates the importance of strengthening early warning systems, information and experience exchange systems, and also investing in healthcare frameworks in order to strengthen healthcare nationally while providing the necessary financing for tackling health emergencies. It's also necessary to place justice and equity at the heart of our action. This will allow a whole set of countries, especially developing countries, to obtain the means for diagnosis and therapeutics and vaccines in a timely fashion. We should also strengthen the capacity for production regionally. Chair, it's important to adopt a global approach for tackling health threats, notably by strengthening cooperation across the animal health and public health and environmental health sectors. The WHO plays a major role here. Multilateral action needs to be strengthened. There should be greater cooperation across countries and involving all stakeholders. to make us more effective internationally. By way of conclusion, it is high time that we made a commitment internationally and moved to concrete action, because we know that PPR is a shared responsibility and is necessary for the prosperity of the peoples of the world. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kuwait. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, let me begin by thanking the President of the General Assembly and the co-facilitators, Armenia, Rwanda, for their efforts in convening this important meeting. We do not know when or where the next pandemic will emerge. What we do know is that the choices we make today will determine how prepared we are when it does. The lessons of COVID-19 are clear. No country can prevent, prepare for, or respond to a pandemic alone. Solidarity is not only a shared value, it is a practical necessity. Japan therefore supports the draft political declaration which advances multilateral cooperation to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics. We must work together across borders while reaffirming the principle of the sovereignty of states in addressing public health matters. Amid the current Ebola outbreak, Japan has provided a total of 8.5 million US dollars to support Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Just two days ago, at the ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of UHC, which Japan co-hosted with Thailand and Georgia, we renewed our shared commitment to advancing UHC. Our own experience has taught us that UHC is not a luxury that comes after economic development. Rather, it is the foundation for social stability and sustainable growth. Japan has promoted global efforts towards achieving UHC, including through the UHC Knowledge Hub, as resilient health systems are essential to preparedness against health emergencies. International rules and institutions also matter. Japan regards the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement in 2025 as an important step forward. We will continue to contribute constructively to negotiations on its annex. Excellencies, we cannot choose when the next crisis will come, but we can choose how we prepare for it. The time to strengthen health systems is now. The time to invest in preparedness is now. And the time to strengthen solidarity is now. Japan will continue to work with the international community to turn the lessons of the past into action today. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Madagascar.

Madame Chair, Excellencies, the Government of Madagascar congratulates the United Nations Organization on holding the second High-Level Meeting on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Pandemics. COVID-19 together with our recent experience of MPOC since December 2025, has shown us that no country can deal with health threats alone. It confirms the need to invest before crises strike, especially for an island state that is exposed to epidemic climate and environmental risks, and also one that is facing difficulties of access for certain communities. This is the approach that we've been using to strengthen our national system. We're using electronic surveillance through HES2 and this now covers a high proportion of the districts in our country. More than 300 agents have been trained through the FTP and special teams are now operational across the country. We are also continuing to strengthen our laboratory network and emergency public health control system and also our community surveillance and also at entry points. We're also continuing to implement amendments to the International Sanitary Agreement by capitalizing on our assessment of the external joint audit of 2025, the international response to Mpox and other simulations. Our national health security plan is currently being implemented, and we're also strengthening the One Health system with regional cooperation across the Indian Ocean, and mobilization of communities. Nevertheless, these efforts must be supported by an enabling international environment. Madagascar calls for predictable, sustained, and accessible financing. In this regard, we hail the Pandemic Fund. We also call for real equity in access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics and technologies, as well as multilateral cooperation that is greater and strengthened based on sharing data, knowledge and technology, Madagascar reaffirms its full readiness to contribute to this collective effort and supports the adoption by consensus of the political declaration following this meeting. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Madagascar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Solomon Islands.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Colleagues, Solomon Islands thanks the President of the General Assembly for convening this second high-level meeting. For our nation, Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response is not an abstract framework. It is a daily operational reality. It is reality defined by hundreds of dispersed islands, a thin workforce, and climate crisis that compounds every health emergency we face. Since 2023, we have taken concrete steps to strengthen our national preparedness. We institutionalized the Public Health Emergency Operation Center, established national medical assistance teams, and extend disease surveillance into our most remote islands. These investments were put to the test when Tropical Cyclone Mala struck earlier this year. Our national medical assistance team, SOLEMAT, deployed rapidly. Our surveillance system actively monitored disease risks in displaced sites. We are currently conducting a structured after-action review to institutionalise the lessons learned. We welcome the adoption of the World Health Organization pandemic agreement and the entry into force of the amended international health regulations. and the establishment of the pandemic fund. However, to complete this framework, we urge the swift conclusion of negotiation on pathogen access and the benefit sharing. Small states cannot build such capacity alone. We call on the pandemic fund and the Global Health Emergency Corps to provide predictable pre-positioned support for small island developing states. rather than rely solely on reactive crisis-triggered financing. Mr. President, while Solomon Islands supports the political declaration adopted today, we ask this Assembly to move beyond political commitments and demonstrate action through sustained and multi-year financing horizon for preparedness. Health security infrastructure must like climate infrastructure. cannot be built through fragmented, one-off emergency response cycle. Solomon Islands stand firm in commitment to multilateralism and intergenerational responsibility, equity and solidarity. And we look forward to a concise, action-oriented political declaration that delivers predictable support to those most exposed and least resourced. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Solomon Islands. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Thank you very much, Chairperson, Excellencies, distinguished guests. South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered by Burundi on behalf of the Africa Group. We meet at a defining moment for global health architecture. The acute emergency of COVID-19 has passed, but the structural inequities that deepened its toll remain unresolved. More than 7 million lives were lost worldwide. That loss must stand as a permanent reminder that pandemic preparedness is not a discretionary expense, but a foundation of sustainable development and global health security. South Africa welcomes the progress our multilateral system has made, particularly the adoption of the WHO pandemic health of the WHO pandemic agreement and the amendments to the international health regulations. But these instruments will be judged not by their text, but by a collective will to implement them. Without binding commitments to equity and solidarity, the risk remaining aspirations on paper. South Africa reaffirms the centrality of WHO's coordinating role in global health governance and the need to strengthen its capacity to convene and support member states, particularly those with least resources. South Africa lends its full support to the political declaration to be adopted at this high-level meeting and calls for its swift, faithful implementation. We wish to underscore three imperatives for durable future-proof preparedness. Firstly, operationalizing the PAPS agreement, the PAPS systems, which we are urging that it must be concluded. We agree with other speakers before. We must finalize the pathogen access and benefit insurance system and its annexure without further delay. Access to pathogens must be matched in practice and not only in principle. by fair and timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics developed from them. Secondly, expanding local production underpinned by real transfer of technology, manufacturing capacity of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics must structurally be diversified across the global south. This requires unhindered technology transfer, full use of TRIPS, flexibility under the Doha Declaration and the removal of universal cohesive measures that continue to constrain developing countries. Thirdly, securing predictable financing and advancing the One Health system. We need sustainable, well-aligned financing. South Africa calls on the high-level meeting to go beyond restating past commitments. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States of America.

Madam Vice President, distinguished delegates, under Trump's leadership, President Trump's leadership, the United States remains committed to protecting the American people from biological threats and strengthening our ability to prevent, prepare for, detect, and respond to outbreaks before they become crises. The threats we face are real and immediate, from Marburg in November 2025 and Andes virus in May 2026 to the severe Bunyebujio Ebola outbreak we confront today. Infectious disease outbreaks can cost lives, disrupt economies, and threaten national security. The United States has long been a leading contributor to global health, and we remain the largest donor to the ongoing Bunyebujio Ebola response. Preparedness requires that the science we support advances health security rather than undermine it. Through our new policy for stopping high-risk life sciences research, the United States has strengthened oversight of high-risk life sciences research and prohibited federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research. We can advance scientific discovery and medical innovation while protecting public health and national security, and we encourage all member states to join us in this key initiative. Governments have the primary responsibility for protecting the health of their people, and every country needs the core capabilities to detect, assess, and respond to health threats within its own borders. We should measure progress by what we can see on the ground, stronger surveillance and laboratory systems, faster detection, improved response capabilities, and national systems that are more prepared when the next threat emerges. Regarding the political declaration, we do appreciate the work of the co-facilitators, Armenia and Rwanda, and we acknowledge the constructive engagements across member states throughout these negotiations. While the negotiations produced some meaningful revisions to the declaration, critical issues remain unresolved. Whether it is the inclusion of divisive ideologies that lack definitional consensus or references to an unfinished negotiation on pathogen access and benefit sharing in an agreement that failed to achieve international consensus, the United States is not in a position to support this text in full. We regret that we were unable to resolve these issues. the United States sought to reach consensus on the important issues of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The United States stands ready to work directly with responsible partners to strengthen preparedness, stop dangerous outbreaks at their source, and protect the health and security of people around the world. We are ready to do our part, and we call on every member state to do the same. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States of America. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.

Honorable President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea, I would like to express my deep appreciation to the United Nations General Assembly for their dedicated efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic left a profound impact on the world, exacerbating inequalities and placing enormous strain on essential health systems, with vulnerable populations and developing countries bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. We firmly believe that responses to infectious disease emergencies must prioritize equity and respect for human rights and be guided by a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. In this regard, we strongly support the adoption of this political declaration. It reaffirms that states bear the primary responsibility for the health and well-being of their peoples, while emphasizing the importance of equity, respect for human rights, global solidarity, and collective action. Korea has sought to strike a balance between protecting public health and maintaining everyday life through science and data-driven surveillance and targeted public health measures guided by the principles of transparency and democratic processes. The Republic of Korea is taking an active role in strengthening global health security by expanding our technical and financial support for partner countries and advancing international cooperation. First, we strongly support the Pandemic Fund and WHO Contingents Fund for Emergency in mobilizing the essential resources needed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities particularly in low and middle income countries. We will continue to contribute to the sustainable and predictable health financing. Korea will also work to bridge gaps, helping to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures and promote equitable access to them. We hope that the political declaration adopted today will go beyond a statement of intent and translate political commitment into concrete action, strengthening global solidarity and shared responsibility to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. As a responsible member of the international community, the Republic of Korea will continue to do its part. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Latvia.

Madam President, their excellencies, pandemics have reminded us of a simple truth. Health security is a shared responsibility. No country, however strong, can prevent a global health threat on its own. Multilateral cooperation, solidarity and equity are therefore not a political choice, they are a necessity. We welcome the progress made since 2023, in particular the adoption of the WHO's pandemic agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations. Latvia has completed the necessary national procedures to fully implement the amendments to the International Health Regulations, thereby strengthening both national and international preparedness for health threats. As the declaration states, global society is still not sufficiently prepared. Global architecture remains fragmented, funding is insufficient, and access to medical countermeasures is unequal. Latvia stresses that military security challenges create additional risks in terms of the spread of infectious diseases and other public health threats. which is why it is now essential to be able to identify these multiple risks and be prepared for them. As COVID-19 showed, equitable and timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment must be at the center of our collective action. Pandemic preparedness does not begin at the moment of crisis, but in everyday work. Recent experience shows that the One Health approach is becoming increasingly important as human health is closely linked to processes in animal health and the environment. Dear Vice President, digital solutions and good data governance can save lives. Timely data exchange, interoperable systems, science-based surveillance, and reliable information help faster decision-making and protect the public more efficiently. Digital transformation must be grounded in human rights, principles of trust, and equal opportunity, while never forgetting about cybersecurity considerations. Moreover, disinformation poses a grave threat to society. Infodemics and lack of health literacy create confusion, undermine trust in experts, and can hinder the effective implementation of public health measures, especially during pandemics. Latvia reiterates the importance of gender equality in ensuring equity and solidarity, including in crisis situations. Women are significantly represented in the health sector, which makes their role in crisis preparedness and response highly important.

I thank the distinguished representative of Latvia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Czechia.

Madam Vice-President, distinguished delegation, ladies and gentlemen. The Czech Republic fully align itself with the statement delivered on behalf on the European Union and its member states. We appreciate the political declaration and its strong emphasis on prevention, preparedness and resilience as well as its focus on transatlantic political commitments into concrete national capacities. The COVID-19 pandemic remind us that the health emergency are not exceptional event and that can be addressed only during time of crisis. For Czechia, one of the key lesson learned is the pandemic prevention preparedness and response must common and integral and permanent component of public health policy. Preparedness cannot be treated as a separate entity that receive attention only when a new threat emerges. We approach it as fully reflected in the declaration called to strengthen resilience health system, surveillance, laboratory capacities, risk communication, workspace development, and community engagement. We therefore support the effort to make the preparedness cycle and routine part of public health practice. Preparedness planning, risk assessment, training and exercises, monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement should become the standard of public health function at the national and local levels. Continuous check reminds committed to translating political commitments into the practical and sustainable action. We must move for reactive crisis management to work and culture of continuous readiness, where preparedness and maintenance, testing and improve between emergencies. The pandemic preparedness should no longer be viewed as an exceptional activity, but as a normal and enduring function of strong, of resilient public health system. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Czechia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Three years after the first High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, Recent outbreaks remind us that the question is not whether the world will face another pandemic, but when. Against this backdrop

It is more important than ever to promote multilateral dialogue and an intergenerational approach. Switzerland would like, first of all, to highlight the value of multilateralism. The experience of COVID-19 has reminded us that no country alone can prevent, prepare for or respond effectively to a pandemic. Switzerland's priority is clear. We need a strong global health architecture with the WHO at its center. The WHO's unique role in setting norms and coordinating responses remains key. The amendments to the International Health Regulations and the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement are significant milestones that strengthen global health security and reaffirm a global commitment to multilateral cooperation for However, the PAPS agreement will fulfill its promise only if it's operational, if it is operational and implementable by state parties of the WHO and all stakeholders. Secondly, I would like to emphasize the importance of an intergenerational approach. The pandemic affected different generations differently. Older persons were more vulnerable to severe outcomes, while those living in long-term care facilities faced particularly high risks of infection. At the same time, younger generations experienced significant disruptions to education, social life, and mental well-being. Switzerland takes these lessons seriously and has taken into account the needs and perspectives of different generations in our revised national pandemic plan. As member states of the UN, we share the collective responsibility to find solutions that protect and promote health for all. Switzerland calls for renewed commitment to solidarity, collective responsibility and global preparedness across countries and across generations. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Excellencies, The question is not if there will be a next pandemic, but there will be. The question is whether we will be ready for it. Recent outbreaks such as the hantavirus, mpox, Ebola have shown that the risk of infectious disease emergencies remain very real. The need for urgency of strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response have therefore not diminished. If anything, it has increased. The Kingdom of the Netherlands regrets that Member States have not been able to reach agreement on the common political outcome for this high-level meeting, reflecting this urgency. Furthermore, we regret that the negotiations on the annex of the pandemic agreement have not been concluded after a full year of prolonged negotiations. The Kingdom of the Netherlands have actively contributed to the negotiation process of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, and we welcome the adoption of the basic text for the Pandemic Agreement as a major and necessary step towards strengthening global PPR. Political differences a reality in multilateralism, but these should not keep us from our shared responsibility to continue to make the necessary efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. We therefore stress the importance of the conclusion of the effective and equitable patent access and benefit sharing, benefit sharing annex, so that we can start the legal procedures to make the pandemic treaty a reality. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this means that all of us should raise the level of ambition by strengthening preparedness both nationally, internationally, and world, and work towards equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment for all. Because ultimately, these efforts are about protecting our people and ensuring that the societies remain resilient in the face of future pandemics. Building resilience is at the heart of the effective pandemic prevention preparedness and response policies. Best pandemic response is to prevent threats from emerging and when they do to detect and control them before they escalate. We must strengthen prevention at the human level and human animal environment interface through a one health approach to identify and address risk before they develop into more dangerous and costly emergencies. This means that investing monitoring, surveillance, and early warning of potential infectious diseases, zoonotic threats, AMR, and environmental risk. It also means building a strong connected capacity at local, national, and regional global levels so that we can act early and effectively when threats emerge. Resilience also requires sustained political commitment and sustainable financing.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay.

Madam Chair, Uruguay is grateful for the convening of this high-level meeting. We are convinced of the importance of strengthening international cooperation as so that as an international community we are better prepared for responding to and addressing future pandemics. We also wish to issue our support for the political declaration and we thank Armenia and Rwanda for their role as co-facilitators. We also reaffirm our backing for the pandemic agreement approved by the WHO as well as the need to conclude negotiations on the annex to the PABs system. This system is key for generating confidence between the states and to ensure timely sharing of genetic sequences, data and information, and overall ensuring that the benefits from this exchange are distributed in a balanced and fair way. Striking a balance here is crucial because quick access to pathogens and data needs to be accompanied by fair access to therapeutics, diagnosis and vaccines. and we need to achieve universal healthcare coverage. In this regard, emergency response should be an entry point for capturing and connecting populations and situations of vulnerability and putting them in touch with long-term health services, including vaccines, maternal health, and care for chronic diseases. This is essential for building resilience across the population. and ultimately to move towards the full enjoyment of health by all people. Uruguay has significant strengths in this area. Our integrated and comprehensive health system provides universal health care for the whole population, and our spending in health is up to 7% of GDP. But there are still gaps in access to health care. This represents a cruel expression of other structural inequalities. We are particularly concerned by poverty and inequality that affects children and adolescents in the country, including in the area of health. We are working proactively to strengthen the response and support of the State across the territory. Madam Chair, Uruguay will continue to support multilateralism and international cooperation to address health emergencies that know no borders. In this regard, We will continue to support the WHO for their valuable work in the area of evidence-based public policy, which we recognize and we hail. We will continue to promote an approach that combines a quick and effective response to pandemics and other health emergencies by building structural health resilience with a view to universal coverage. The speaker's microphone has been cut off.

I thank I thank the distinguished representative of Uruguay. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Excellencies, India reaffirms its commitment to strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through international cooperations. The lessons we learned during COVID-19 pandemic must translate into sustained investment and institutional preparedness. India has adopted a whole of government, whole of society, and all hazards approach, strengthening surveillance, laboratory networks, emergency coordination, workforce, stockpiles, and clinical care capacity. Preparedness must be embedded in national health systems, development plans, and domestic financing. International support should complement national responsibility. India reaffirms General Assembly Resolution 78/3 and supports a member state-led review of its implementation, coordinated with other PPPR processes. Digital public infrastructure should be recognized as a global public good. India's COVID experience demonstrated how digital solutions can support surveillance, vaccination, risk communication, supply chain, and continuity of health services. preparedness must be matched with solidarity. Through vaccine Maitri, India supplied 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries and two UN entities, while providing medical assistance to over 150 countries. This reflects One Earth, One Health, and our commitment to the Global South. The WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, is a milestone. Its credibility will depend on a fair pathogen access and benefit-sharing system. Countries contributing pathogens and biological resources must receive timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, technologies, and other benefits with respect for national sovereignty. The declaration must not prejudge negotiations on the PABs annex. India regards the political declaration as non-binding and to be implemented in accordance with national circumstances and capacities. regarding One Health, its implementation must be pursued as appropriate in accordance with domestic law, international law and national circumstances. India regrets that paragraph 56 does not recognize member states role in reviewing and consolidating PPR tools, assessments and data. Given such policy implications, these processes must be undertaken in consultation with member states. Preparedness is a shared responsibility. Equity is not optional. Global solidarity must be demonstrated through action. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany.

Chair, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, Germany aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. We highly welcome that pandemic prevention preparedness and response is once again on the agenda of this UN High-Level Meeting. This second meeting serves as a strong reminder that we, as the international community, have come a long way. But important work still lies ahead of us. The political declaration reaffirms our shared commitment to advance PPPR. At the same time, however, we would have hoped for a little more balanced approach on some important issues. First, for Germany, a stronger focus on prevention, including through the One Health approach and surveillance, is essential. It is crucial to detect health threats early and prevent outbreaks in the first place. And this is exactly why the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin established for this very purpose is of utmost importance, because the hub is a very effective instrument in PPPR, and its work benefits the whole world. Therefore, we should acknowledge the importance of this key player. Second, global action must go hand in hand with strong national capacities. Every country should be able to prepare and respond at national level. Therefore, we stress the relevance of domestic financing and national responsibility, recalling that CBDR only applies to climate financing. And third, Germany highlights the importance of recognizing international regulatory frameworks. And this, of course, includes promoting research and innovation through voluntary cooperation and negotiating and implementing rules on IP with voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms. Lastly, we highlight the need to conclude the ongoing PAPS negotiations, because this will enable the conclusion of the pandemic agreement and thereby give us the needed multilateral framework for future PPPR. My country is committed to advance PPPR further together with all of you. Thank you very much.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of Germany. And I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Malaysia.

Thank you, Chair, Excellencies. COVID-19 exposes a fundamental truth: no nation can secure its health in isolation. Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response must therefore be both a national imperative and a shared global responsibility. Malaysia has translated this lesson into through Malaysia National Action Plan for Health Security 2025-2030. We are strengthening health system readiness, integrated surveillance, and early warning laboratory capacity, emergency coordination, and a prepared health workforce. Taking serious consideration on public health, Malaysia is implementing one health approach in mitigating the microbiological threat in food, water and the environment. We believe that only through whole of society approaches would public health be assured nationwide. Excellencies, stronger preparedness will remain incomplete without equity. Malaysia welcome the WHO pandemic agreement and we call for robust and equitable access and benefit sharing and acts that places patent sharing and benefit sharing on equal footing while respecting national legislation and strict sovereignty. Equity must also be supported by the capacity to research, develop and produce essential health products through our national vaccine development roadmap 2021-2030, Malaysia is strengthening these capabilities. Looking ahead, Excellencies, our Our collective ambition must be matched by sustainable means. Financing should be adequate, predictable, and responsive to public health risk, equity, and country needs. International mechanisms must complement domestic investment, strengthen national capacities, and reinforce universal health coverage. Excellencies, the true test of this meeting will not be the commitment we announce, but whether the next threat is detected earlier, contained faster and met with fairer access to life-saving tools. Let us make solidarity not an improvised response to crisis, but a standing commitment secured before the next emergency for every nation and every generation. Thank you.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of Malaysia. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Montenegro.

Excellencies, Montenegro itself aligns with the statement delivered by the EU. We welcome political declaration and the WHO pandemic agreement as important steps towards more equitable, effective and coordinated global response to future health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented test of our health systems and societies, demonstrating that preparedness, resilience, and solidarity cannot be improvised once a crisis begins. We therefore support a global ambition to make diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics available within 100 days of identifying a pandemic threat. Preparedness must also mean regional cooperation, rapid data sharing, secure supply chains, and equitable access. The pathogen access and benefit sharing system should translate solidarity into practice through transparent sharing of pathogens and fair distribution of the resulting benefits while fully respecting national sovereignty. Early warning must be connected to rapid action. With the EU funding and WHO technical support, Montenegro developed a public health emergency operation center within the Institute of Public Health. It integrates real-time information, risk assessment, institutional coordination, public health measures, communication, and training. Our experience confirmed that the resilience is built from primary care upwards. Montenegro's primary healthcare and home care services manage many patients with mild to moderately severe illness, enabling hospitals to focus on critical cases. Small systems have limited specialist reserves. We are therefore investing in retaining and educating health professionals, continuing medical education, standard operating procedures, and simulations. Preparedness also requires inclusive partnerships. We must strengthen crisis communication, prepare media professionals to inform responsibly without creating panic or amplifying misinformation about vaccines and protective measures. Finally, a wall of government and a wall of society approach must connect health, agriculture, environment, education, finance, social protection, security, and social authorities through One Health. Montenegro remains committed to WHO, multilateralism, sustainable partnerships, financing, and solidarity. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Montenegro. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.

Madam President, honorable ministers, excellencies, distinguished delegates, a very good afternoon to you all. Let me begin by extending our appreciation to the President of the General Assembly for convening this high-level meeting. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Burundi on behalf of the Africa Group. We also thank the Permanent Representative of Rwanda and Armenia for successfully facilitating the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Political Declaration. Since the adoption of the first political declaration on pandemic, significant progress has been achieved globally in strengthening legal and institutional and financing frameworks. These are positive developments with regard to efforts in strengthening surveillance capacities, research and development, and equitable access to relevant health products. Madam President, At national level, Ethiopia has identified pandemic preparedness and response as a strategic priority for building a resilient public health system. Post COVID-19 pandemic, we have established a multi-sectoral pandemic prevention, preparedness and response centers to detect, monitor and respond to public health and emergencies and threats to quickly control outbreaks and prevent further local and international transmission. These centers align with global standards and are intended to serve as a command centers during public health emergencies. Ethiopia has successfully managed health emergencies through enhanced surveillance systems, improved national laboratory capacities, and ensured availability of skilled health professionals. However, Madam President, significant challenges persist, including inequities to health products, fragmented financing, vaccine nationalism, and lack of access to advanced medical technologies. One of the lessons from the recent global COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant economic crisis is the amplification of the existing dynamics of inequality. This is exacerbated by the prevalence of other infectious diseases like HIV and AIDS, TB, malaria, and other tropical diseases In conclusion, my delegation looks forward to the timely

conclusion of the process.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia.

Thank you, Excellencies. Three years ago, the world came together after the aftermath of COVID-19 to reflect on one of the defining crises of our time. The pandemic claimed an estimated 14.9 million lives, and it pushed 124 million people back into poverty. Low-income countries bore the disproportionate share of the burden. So did frontline health workers, carers, and women. The human, social and economic costs of COVID-19 must not be forgotten, nor should the lessons that it taught us. One lesson stands above all others. Health threats don't respect borders. No country, regardless of their size or resources, can address the health issues alone. Collective challenges require collective action. Science delivered extraordinary breakthroughs, but too many people were left behind. Inequitable access deepened the crisis, to vaccines, to diagnostics, to therapeutics, and there were gaps in preparedness. We have a responsibility to learn from that experience. We must be better prepared. Since our previous high-level meeting, the international community has taken important steps forward. The WHO pandemic agreement and the amendments to the international health regulations are significant milestones for global health security. Together, these reforms will help improve our ability to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to future health emergencies. But our work is not finished. I encourage all parties to continue to work constructively to finalise the pathogen access and benefit sharing annex. We need to do this so that the pandemic agreement can enable a more effective and equitable global response to future pandemics, including by strengthening cooperation in access to lifesaving medical countermeasures. Preparedness is not only about responding to emergencies, it is about investing before crises emerge. In resilient health systems, in surveillance and laboratory capacity, in a skilled health workforce, and in one health approach that recognises the connection between human, animal, and environmental health. President, the test is our resolve is not what we do after a pandemic, but what we do before the next one. The next pandemic is not a matter of when, but if. Together, we can ensure the world is ready. Thank you.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of Australia. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the Philippines.

Excellencies, colleagues. The Philippines welcomes this high-level meeting, reaffirming our collective commitment to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic reinforce our conviction that multilateralism, equity, solidarity, and shared responsibility must remain at the heart of global health security. The Philippines has contributed constructively to this effort. In the negotiations of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, we played an active bridge building role, including through the Group for Equity and as co-facilitator on key issues such as the health workforce, technology transfer, production capacities, and supply chains. At home, the Resilient Philippines Project, supported by the Pandemic Fund, is advancing an integrated One Health approach by strengthening surveillance, laboratory systems and workforce capacities across human, animal, and environmental health. We therefore encourage increased co-investment and co-financing among states, international institutions, and other stakeholders to sustain preparedness capacities. We are also advancing universal healthcare reforms to strengthen primary healthcare facilities, surveillance, and emergency preparedness. These investments reflect our conviction that preparedness must begin long before the next pandemic. We likewise underscore the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare facilities for infection prevention and control, for protecting health workers and patients, and for strengthening health system resilience and pandemic preparedness. A resilient health system depends on a resilient health workforce. Health and care workers must be recognized not only as emergency responders, but as essential partners in prevention, preparedness, and response. Our experience also points to the need for a whole of society approach. Pandemics can converge with climate-related disasters, emerging diseases, and other emergencies requiring coordinated actions across government, communities, civil societies, academia, the private sector, and development partners. Equity must likewise be built into preparedness from the outset. No country should be left behind because of geography or limited resources. Stronger regional and global cooperation is essential to ensure that scientific progress, innovation, and health technologies benefit all. Excellencies, we must transform the lessons of one crisis into collective preparedness for the next. The Philippines stands ready to work with all partners to advance

multilateralism, equity, solidarity, and development. I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Vanuatu.

All protocols are set. Today I want to speak with you about how we can come together to build stronger, more resilient health systems, not just for Vanuatu, but for all of us. Our Vanuatu Health Sector Strategy 2021 to 2030 is clear. To achieve this, we need to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live or who they are, can access quality health. healthcare when they need it. Resilience, equity, and community engagement are the heart of our approach. We've seen during and after COVID-19 what works and what doesn't. Thanks to the support of WHO and many other partners, we've made real progress. For example, last year, we had a big multi-sectoral consultation in Botswana, bringing together government, UN agencies, NGOs and the community leaders. We talked openly about how to improve coordination, how to share information quickly, and how to reach out, how to reach even most of our remote communities. We realized that trusted leaders and clear communications are vital. They're the backbone of effective response. This isn't just about influenza and future pandemics. It's about laying a foundation for all health challenges. It's about ensuring that when crisis happens, our communities are prepared, engaged and protected. And it's about making sure our health systems are strong enough to withstand shocks so that no one is left behind. But we can also need your support because strengthening health system isn't something we can do alone. Vanuatu calls on the international community to increase funding that is predictable and align with our country-led priorities. We need to reduce fragmentations and duplication and invest in building health systems that are resilient, equitable, and sustainable. We must strengthen national and regional capacities before crisis occur. We need to strengthen health systems, emergency services, supply chains, data systems, and coordination mechanisms because our strategy emphasizes investing in health in resilient health system is not just about healthy security, it's about self-cutting our entire sustainable development agenda. So let's continue to learn from each other, strengthen our frameworks, and make health security a global priority. Thank you too much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Vanuatu. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Yemen.

Madam Chair. Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response are a common responsibility. Global health security requires a system characterized by more readiness, equity, and solidarity, in addition to rapid response capacities and guaranteed access to vaccines, medication, and diagnostics products. In this context, Yemen, represented by its Health and Population Ministry, and despite the challenges faced by our health system, works with its partners and the UN agencies to strengthen our national prevention, detection and response capacities in line with the IHR and the One Health approach. Such efforts allowed us to improve our monitoring and early warning systems, increase the readiness of our laboratory capacities, improve rapid response and our multi-sectoral coordination. Despite this progress, many gaps remain, requiring a more sustainable international support for the LDCs, in particular those affected by conflict. Yemen calls for more attention to be given to the countries that face complex humanitarian and development challenges within the international system of pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. We require a more equitable access to financing, technology, vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures. We also call for a shift from fragmented short-term interventions to an approach based on sustainable and predictable funding and guided by national priorities to contribute to the building of our health system. instead of creating parallel systems. It is also necessary to implement the IHR and to implement the One Health approach to reinforce the early warning systems, in addition to securing the supply chains, nationally and internationally. In conclusion, we reiterate our commitment to solidarity, cooperation and multilateral action. We look forward to translating political commitments into concrete measures, sustainable financing and the development of strong, measurable national capacities, thereby enhancing our collective ability to prevent pandemics, prepare for them and respond effectively to them when they occur. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Yemen. And then I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Chair. Dear Excellencies, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen, Denmark aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the EU and its member states. It's a great honor to be here today. We are gathered to enhance global efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future epidemics. Infections can cross between human, animals, and the environment. And increase in antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat to global health and global economy. Integrated One Health surveillance systems across the human, animal, and environmental sectors can help us to detect threats earlier and not least respond faster. We must ensure strong infection prevention and control to protect patients, healthcare workers, and communities, and to improve health system resilience. Vaccinations remain a core pillar of prevention. Every infection prevented is an infection that does not need treatment with antibiotics. Along with water, sanitation, and hygiene, vaccination programs are crucial weapons in the fight against infections and AMR. Denmark welcomes the important efforts that are underway to strengthen global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. While the political declaration falls short of our expectations and goals, we remain fully and unreservedly committed to the overarching objective. During COVID, we experienced how new variants quickly changed the dynamics, including changes in transmission, severity, vaccine protection, and tropism. Adapting to these changes requires shift sharing of data and biological material. We must secure an ecosystem that allows us that to happen for future health security. We commend the work of the WHO to strengthen global health architecture and enhance our ability to respond rapidly to new and unforeseen challenges. And we remain committed to finalizing an effective, equitable, and implementable pathogen access and benefit sharing system to complete the pandemic agreement and pave the way for its entry into force. It's an honor to be advancing these crucial efforts in cooperation with you all to meet, to discuss, and most importantly, to learn from one another. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Denmark. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

COVID-19 reminded us that health security is not only a health issue. It is also a development issue, a security issue, and a question of international solidarity. Despite important progress, the world remains at risk of future pandemics. Geopolitical tensions are growing, multilateral cooperation is under pressure, and we cannot afford to relax. Norway believes that pandemic preparedness must be built on solidarity, equity, inclusion, and respect of international law. No country can protect itself alone. Disease does not respect borders. Our own security depends on how prepared others are. That is why we need to invest in health promotion, stronger health systems, surveillance, research, and laboratory capacity. This is not only the right thing to do, it is in the interests of every nation. The lessons from COVID-19 are clear. Future responses must be more equitable. Access to vaccines and treatments cannot depend on what resources countries have. Human rights and the need of those most at risk must remain at the center. Excellencies, a strong and effective global health architecture is key for our collective security. We need strong international institutions and effective coordination, and the World Health Organization must continue to play its normative role. Political support is not enough, we need sustained financial commitments. Norway intends to provide 1 billion Norwegian crowns to CEPI for its next strategic period. We have strong confidence in CEPI's unique mission and its role in the global health architecture. Norway welcomes the agreement reached on the main body of the pandemic agreement. Multilateral cooperation can deliver results. We must now focus on implementation. We must agree on the pathogen access and benefit sharing system, perhaps. We need to build trust. We need to ensure that the benefits of scientific progress are shared with greater fairness. Let us take this opportunity to strengthen cooperation and the rule-based international order. Together, let us build a safer future for all. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. And I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Madam President.

Madam President, we would like to emphasize four key priorities. Number one, guaranteeing fair, rapid access without discrimination to therapeutic and diagnostic systems specifically for developing nations. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the security of the global system is inextricably linked to the capabilities of each state, their ability to prevent, to prepare, and to respond. Second, strengthening technology transfer initiatives and guaranteeing productive capabilities at the national level. This is necessary in order to ensure an appropriate level of access to essential health products, as well as to guarantee sustainability in supply chains. It is no longer admissible for such differences to persist in the deliveries of medicines and vaccines and access thereto. Next, it is necessary to train healthcare professionals, researchers, public health professionals, as well as to provide the best possible conditions for them, particularly in developing states. Fourth, it is necessary to strengthen financial support mechanisms that are rapid, flexible, and accessible to all in order to alleviate obstacles being faced, to surmount obstacles faced by developing countries. We believe in the right to health. This is a basic right. And for our part at the national level, we're continuing to engage in healthcare reform through digitization, as well as modernization of our infrastructure, as well as providing local access to healthcare services. Our efforts have been successful. the WHO in April last recognized that we eradicated trachoma. And we also achieved headway in a number of areas, specifically in maternal and child health. And we are also manufacturing pharmaceutical products at the national level. We reiterate our unstinting commitment to strengthening cooperation and solidarity with African states. We stand ready to share our expertise and our experience on the ground in the medical to deliver our technical and training related support. We also support international level efforts in order to shore up prevention, preparedness, and response in order to establish a global healthcare system that is more equitable, more comprehensive, and better positioned to tackle international crises.

Thank you, Madam.

I thank the distinguished representative of Algeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nepal.

Thank you, Madam President. We stand in solidarity with people of Democratic Republic of Congo as they confront Ebola, and commend Uganda for bringing its outbreak to an end. The crisis is a reminder that the next emergency is not a distant prospect. Nepal has drawn important lessons from COVID-19. With support from the Pandemic Fund, we are strengthening disease surveillance, health laboratories, and our rapid response capacity at national and subnational levels. These investments are already paying off. In the wake of last month's devastating floods, they are helping us detect health threats early and act before they escalate into outbreaks. Yet these gains are fragile. As international support for health shrinks and preparedness budgets come under strain, hard-won capacities in countries like ours are at risk. And a gap is one country's differences leaves us all exposed. President, let me highlight three priorities. First, complete the pandemic agreement. Negotiations on pathogen access and benefit sharing must be concluded without further delay, and they must deliver timely, affordable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for countries that need them the most. Second, finance preparedness as a global public good. The pandemic fund shows what predictable country-led financing can achieve. Least developed and graduating countries must not lose access to concessional and surge financing precisely when they are the most vulnerable, nor be forced to choose between servicing debt and providing health. Third, protect people on the move. During COVID-19, many Nepali migrant workers were stranded abroad, struggling to access care or to return home. Preparedness plans must cover migrant workers, ensuring access to care where they work and a safe return when crises strike. Excellencies, this meeting calls for an intergenerational approach. In Nepal, that is not a slogan. A new generation is already reshaping our politics and demanding institutions that deliver. Young people must help design preparedness, not only volunteer when crisis hits. The true measure of our commitment today will be whether, when the next pathogen emerges, the world is better prepared, fairer and faster than before. Nepal will do its part. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nepal. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guyana.

Vice President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, COVID-19 taught us that a country cannot begin preparing when you have an emergency. By then, health workers are under pressure, supplies are scarce, and the time to prevent wider harm is rapidly disappearing. Preparedness is the capacity we build together before that moment arrives. For Guyana, this lesson is shaped by our geography. Our population includes communities separated by vast forests and long distances. We must detect a threat early, report it quickly, and deliver care wherever people live. That is why we are strengthening our primary health care, laboratories, our workforce, and we are using technologies such as telemedicine. We are also advancing our One Health cooperation across human, animal, and environmental health. Our experience points to three priorities for multilateral action. The first, we must share reliable information without delay Surveillance systems should connect local facilities to national authorities, to neighboring countries, regional institutions, and eventually to the WHO. An alert is most valuable when others can act on it in time. Second, we must share practical lessons. During COVID-19, countries found different ways to reach communities, maintain essential services, and support healthcare workers. We should exchange those experiences openly, including what failed. Joint exercises and regular reviews can turn lessons into stronger plans before the next emergency. And third, the benefits of science must be shared fairly. Guyana remembers the inequities in access to vaccines, diagnostics, and other essential supplies. As President Ali has said, science should know no north or south, but access to its fruits must never depend on geography. We support the WHO Pandemic Agreement, and we need to resolve the outstanding issues on pathogen access and benefit sharing. These priorities require sustained financing. Guyana also supports the Pandemic Fund. because it helps countries invest in preparedness before a crisis. We also value the collaboration and cooperation through CARPHA, PAHO, and WHO. For a developing country, strong regional and global institutions extend...

I thank the distinguished representative of Guyana. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Finland.

Your Excellencies, first of all, I'd like to start by saying that Finland aligns itself with the EU statement. Finland's approach to health emergencies is based on the concept of comprehensive security. This means that public authorities, civil society, the private sector and individuals all work together through the whole of society approach in any emergencies. Human and animal health and the environment are closely interlinked. Preventing future pandemics requires one health approach and cross-sectoral collaboration to address emerging risks at their source. Well-functioning health and social welfare systems are critical to societal resilience. Readiness means investing in preparedness and capabilities to respond. The sustainability of these capabilities must be tested for effective delivery before emergencies occur. Pandemics are not only health crises, they also have a significant impact on economies, education, social cohesion, and public trust. Effective preparedness and response require safeguarding health and well-being, protecting fundamental rights, ensuring the continuity of essential services, and maintaining the vital functions of society. Outbreaks affect people differently across the life course and in relation to gender and other intersecting factors. Equity and the protection of people in vulnerable situations are at the heart of an effective response. Finland emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of diverse population groups, including older persons, women and girls, children, youth, LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities and persons living with chronic illnesses, while ensuring that no one is left behind. Any countermeasures should be necessary, proportionate and based on the best available situational awareness and risk assessment. This approach helps to ensure that actions taken today do not create unintended outcomes. We are all interconnected. This is why we need strong international cooperation to strengthen collective preparedness and resilience. International institutions and regional partnerships can help countries to build capacities and mechanisms that benefit both their citizens and all nations. Finland is committed to maintaining our support to epidemic and pandemic vaccine development and solidarity through the work of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation and the International Vaccine Institute in the coming years. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Finland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

By President Excellency, distinguished delegates. The Lao PDR commend the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting on foresting and multilateral and intergenerational approach to the equity and solidarity. Situated at the heart of the Mekong subregion, bordering five country, Lao PDR recognize that health security is deeply interconnected. Emerging, re-emerging infection disease do not respect border. COVID-19 proved that global health security remain fragile, while sovereign inactivity persists in access to medical countermeasures, financing, and technical practice. For too long, our region has responsibility For emergency, only one day arrive. That's what they were our ambition. The pandemic fund has shown better way, turning the hard lesson, a crisis into the lasting investment in stronger, safer system to protect our people. But the need of our growing faster than resources, and too often financing still arrive after the crisis. We urge three actions. First, operationalize equity, guarantee timely, affordable access to vaccine, diagnostic, and therapeutic for developing nations. Second, ensure predictable financing transition from reactive crisis spending to the long-term capacity building of global health public good. Third, implement One Health strengthening collaboration across human, animal, the environmental sector to stop poachers in the South Sea. Excellency, just as the Mekong unites our region, our health security relies every nation along the chain and across ASEAN. Lao PDR reaffirms its commitment to the political dialogue I look forward to its full implementation. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. I now give the floor to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter.

Madam Chair. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honor to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter. I understand that I have five minutes for the group. My understanding, Chair, is that groups of states have five minutes to speak. Madam Chair, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honor to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter. Member States greet the convening of this high-level meeting and reaffirm their commitment to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response to pandemics based on the Charter of the UN and solidarity, international cooperation, equity, and respect for the sovereignty of states. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us a lesson that the international community cannot forget. No country can face alone global health emergencies. The pandemic evidenced inequalities between developed and developing countries with regard to timely and affordable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other essential products, we take note of the political declaration being adopted today, including its important commitments to promote equity, to strengthen resilient systems, to expand the capacities of developing countries, and to promote timely and affordable access to essential health products. To prevent the next pandemics requires true, inclusive, and effective multilateralism based on cooperation and solidarity instead of confrontation, exclusion, or imposition. It is necessary to strengthen national capacities sustainably in coordination with states and with full respect for their sovereignty, taking into account the realities, priorities, and needs of each country. We underline the need to move toward a more just and equitable international architecture to promote development of these products in developing countries, to emphasize supply chains, and to guarantee affordable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures without discrimination or exclusion of any kind. We also reaffirm the exchange of pathogens and their genetic information must go hand in hand with the just distribution of the benefits. In that regard, we support the prompt conclusion through a transparent, inclusive process led by states of negotiations of the system on pathogen access and benefits sharing. We're sorry that the political declaration in front of us once again does not include a matter of fundamental importance for many developing countries, the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures with regard

...efforts of prevention, preparedness and response to pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, clearly shown that those measures limit access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other essential products, which has a direct consequence on the capacity of States to protect the health and the life of their peoples. These restrictions are particularly detrimental during health emergencies, when solidarity and international cooperation and more needed than ever. We thus reiterate the total lifting and unconditional lifting of these measures. Future efforts to strengthen the world's preparedness to pandemics must include the impact of these illegal measures and guarantee that no country or person will be impeded from accessing goods and cooperation which are necessary for life. Preparedness cannot be based on something that is selective. The international system preparing for future pandemics must emphasize national capacities, knowledge, technology, sustainable development, and must eliminate the barriers which prevent states from protecting the health and life of their peoples. Only through genuine and inclusive multilateralism will we be able to change the painful lessons of COVID-19 to guarantee that no one is left behind. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi.

President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, My delegation aligns with the statement delivered by Burundi on behalf of the African Group. We applaud the co-facilitators of the Political Declaration for their efforts to come up with a concise text that is broadly acceptable to all Member States. Malawi's experience with COVID-19 was very devastating. The number of fatalities was in the thousands, while the number of cases was, to put it simply, overwhelming for a nation in our situation. The economic toll was totally unacceptable, with GDP growth slowing down from 5.7% in 2019 to 0.8% at the peak of the pandemic in 2020. My delegation, therefore, welcomes all efforts, particularly at global level, on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. However, we must confront the stark inequalities that define the global health architecture. For Malawi, pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response cannot be decoupled from the existential reality of climate change or the structural barriers of intellectual property. President, my delegation is concerned with the escalating threat of climate-related health shocks, Cyclones, floods, and unpredictable weather patterns directly drive deadly outbreaks of climate-sensitive diseases like cholera and malaria, fracturing our fragile health infrastructure right when demand peaks. During this compounding crisis, our efforts are severely restricted by rigid intellectual property regimes. We must dismantle the IP bottlenecks that block local manufacturing of generic diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, while also fixing the inequitable distribution systems that leave developing nations completely locked out of global stockpiles during global emergencies. To move forward meaningfully, the international community must take three decisive steps. First, waive intellectual property rights during public health emergencies. Second, Integrate climate health financing by funding comprehensive climate-resilient healthcare systems and real-time early warning networks. Third, reform global stockpiles by establishing decentralized, regionally controlled vaccine and therapeutic stockpiles to ensure rapid and fair distribution. President, my delegation supports the 2026 political declaration that appeals for the finalizing of robust legally binding pandemic treaty that guarantees equal solidarity and immediate resource sharing for the global South. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malawi. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chad.

Madam Vice-President, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished participants, Chad welcomes the holding of this high-level meeting, and we thank the Secretariat for the work done. Chad joins in the statement made by Burundi on behalf of the Member States of the African region. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us a truth: no country can protect itself from a pandemic by itself. Health security is collective. For Chad, it is particularly important given that there are recurrent epidemics and humanitarian crises, displacements of people, and the receipt of more than 2 million refugees who exercise a strong pressure on a fragile health system. We must strengthen preparedness That includes primary health, community surveillance, laboratories, and capacities of detection and response. CHAD welcomes the adoption in May 2025 of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and encourages the rapid facilitation of its annex on pathogen actions and benefits sharing. COVID-19 also revealed our dependency on imports. Africa must strengthen its capacity to produce vaccines therapeutics and diagnostics through transfers of technology as well as international and regional cooperation. Despite this difficult context, Chad, with the support of its partners, pursues efforts in particular vaccination, and this has been recognized as a champion of vaccination and the eradication of polio in the region of the Lake Chad Basin, thanks to His Excellency, Marshal Mohamed Idrissa Deby, the President of the Republic. This recognition is an honor for us and a commitment. We must consolidate this approach. Our message is simple. Faced with pandemics, we must prepare together, we must act together, and protect ourselves together. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Chad. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Good afternoon. Bonjour. Three years ago, following the COVID-19 pandemic, we came together at the United Nations with a shared commitment to strengthen how the world prevents, prepares for, and responds to future pandemics. Today, we.

Are following up this commitment.

Epidemics and pandemics do not respond to borders and they can emerge naturally, result from an accident or by a deliberate release of a pathogen. The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a stark reminder of how quickly disease can overwhelm communities and health systems and the consequences extend beyond health. putting lives and livelihoods at risk, disrupting economies, and threatening national and international security, which is why early action and international cooperation are critical. When a new disease emerges, our ability to contain it depends on the strength of our health systems, the speed of our response, and whether countries can access the tools they need. Canada is committed to working with other countries and international partners to ensure we're better prepared to detect, respond and prevent future pandemics. Since 2022, Canada has committed over $777 million to strengthen global pandemic preparedness and vaccine equity. to help develop new vaccines and other tools, expand vaccine manufacturing in low and middle income countries, and help ensure those vaccines reach the people who need them. This includes support for the pandemic fund, CEPI, the Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity, Gavi's African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, and the Global Fund's COVID-19 response. Today, I'm announcing that Canada is committing $36 million to help respond to the escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We are announcing $26 million in the struggle against the Ebola epidemic, which is worsening in the DRC.

COVID-19 taught us what's at stake. Last year's WHO pandemic agreement and strengthened international health regulations have given us a strong foundation to work together. Today, we have an opportunity to build on that foundation and renew our commitment to collective action because the best time to prepare for the next pandemic is before it begins. Canada is committed to doing its part, and we encourage other member states to do the same. Thank you. Merci.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Chair, pandemics are a common challenge for humanity. At present, unilateralism is causing growing shocks. The health divide continues to widen, and the gap in health financing has become increasingly evident. Global health governance urgently needs to be strengthened and improved. Only by solidarity and mutual assistance can the international community build a healthier world. I wish to make three points. First, we must strengthen political commitment and firmly support multilateralism. We must firmly uphold the multilateral system with the UN at its core. and support the WHO in playing a leading and coordinating role in global health governance. We must ensure the implementation of the International Health Regulations and advance the relevant negotiations and deliberations on the pandemic agreement so as to safeguard global public health security. Second, we must build partnerships and pool our collective strength. We must strengthen technical exchanges and experience sharing among developing countries through mechanisms such as South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation. We must continue to expand North-South dialogue and urge developed countries to genuinely fulfill their commitments by providing developing countries with technological and financial support so that no country or no one is left behind. Third, we must pursue open innovation and ensure that all countries can benefit equitably. We must seize the historic opportunity presented by the new round of tech revolution and industrial transformation and promote the application of cutting edge technologies, including AI in the health sector. We firmly support the legitimate concerns for of developing countries on issues such as technology transfer so that the fruits of development are shared equitably by every country. Chair, China a country of action in advancing global public health with its people and their lives as the top priority the Chinese government pursues a health first development strategy continues to strengthen and modernize its disease prevention and control system and capabilities and has developed a system for infectious disease surveillance early warning emergency preparedness and response with Chinese characteristics, China stands ready to work with the international community to further improve the global health governance system, contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to safeguarding global public health security and advance the building of a global community of health for all. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just six years ago, we were unable to gather like this and talk to one another face to face about the challenges we encountered and how to address them. As the COVID-19 pandemic surged, the world was brought to a halt, and we struggled to respond coherently. Sri Lanka is translating these lessons into action. We are strengthening pandemic preparedness through the implementation of our national action plan for health security, adopting a multi-ministerial whole of government approach while strengthening engagement with relevant sectors and stakeholders through a whole of society approach. Sri Lanka is developing a national respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness and response plan aligned with the WHO's preparedness and resilience for emerging threats. Our recent experience with Cyclone Dikda, alongside the ongoing dengue challenge, has further demonstrated the importance of resilient health systems capable of maintaining essential health services and responding rapidly to emerging health threats. Sri Lanka has a strong track record of healthcare planning and response, laying the foundation for institutional practice long before COVID-19 made preparedness a global priority. This year, we mark the centenary of the establishment of our public health service. Beginning with the first field health unit in South Asia, our services have now expanded to a nationwide network. Such efforts have contributed to Sri Lanka remaining malaria-free since 2012. Sri Lanka calls on renewed commitment to facilitate technology transfer and research and development provisions through North-South collaboration. Secondly, promote transparency across the health value chain to facilitate equitable access to procurement and remove barriers to sustainable health solutions. Thirdly, recognize explicitly that debt sustainability and health security financing are intrinsically linked. and that we must act with urgency to reform the international financial architecture in ways that address this. We also recognize the important role of the WHO and the multilateral health architecture in coordinating international action. Sri Lanka stands committed to ensuring the health and safety of all the world's people and recognizes that pandemic prevention, preparedness and response requires collective action, solidarity and shared responsibility. No country can achieve pandemic preparedness alone. I thank you.