Policy paper

G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting, May 2021: Chair’s statement on guest country and ASEAN participation

Published 5 May 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

A statement by Right Honourable Dominic Raab MP, First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom (UK), in his capacity as Chair of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting (3 to 5 May 2021):

1. Today, I chaired a meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States of America, as well as the High Representative of the European Union. I invited the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, the Republic of Korea and South Africa to join these discussions, as well as the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, in his capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

2. We discussed our many shared interests, including open trade flows, regional security, and sustainable infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. I noted the strong consensus on the importance of regional institutions, and the centrality of ASEAN in ensuring stability and the adherence to international rules and norms. It was clear that the G7 and the guests attending the Ministerial meeting shared important common ground on the need to reinforce and protect open societies and economies, and the rules, norms and values that underpin them.

3. We discussed the deeply damaging impact of COVID-19 on the poorest and most vulnerable. I noted a clear consensus on the need for stronger global collaboration to respond to and recover from the pandemic, and reform the global health architecture to ensure it is fit-for-purpose, recognising the deep interconnections that unite us all in tackling this disease. I was pleased at the strong support for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and its COVAX facility. I noted the widespread recognition of the challenges developing countries face in accessing the resources needed to combat COVID-19, despite the many examples of extraordinary leadership over the course of the pandemic. Several participants raised concerns about access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. I am pleased the G7 agreed a statement on equitable access, although I realise there is more to do, and I look forward to advancing this agenda further through both the G20 and the G7.

4. We discussed the acute threat of climate change, including its impacts on the world’s most vulnerable and marginalised communities. We discussed the preparations for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which the UK will co-host in Glasgow on 1 to 12 November 2021. I was pleased to hear a shared sense of ambition among participants, all of whom recognised COP26 as our best chance to meet our shared climate goals. We discussed the practical action we will take to support adaptation and I welcomed the commitments already made by G7 members and guests on adaptation financing, and looked forward to new commitments from others ahead of COP 26.

5. G7 Foreign Ministers discussed with guests the new and ambitious girls’ education targets that they had agreed. We explored ways in which the G7 could work with our guests and other partners to deliver these targets. We also discussed the disproportionate and profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls.

6. I used this meeting to highlight the urgent global food security situation, particularly the risk of famine in north-east Nigeria, Yemen and South Sudan. I am pleased the G7 has announced new measures to prevent famine and to stem the growth of humanitarian needs through a new compact on Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises. I emphasised the need to encourage donors beyond the G7, including IFIs and the private sector to mobilise additional resources and prevent famine this year. I noted a strong desire to support Italy’s efforts to promote greater food security through its G20 Presidency.

7. The contributions of guest countries at the ministerial enriched the discussion and provided a range of perspectives and insights. The UK is proud to be hosting Australia, India, the Republic of Korea and South Africa at the G7 Summit in Carbis Bay. We look forward to our continued cooperation under the UK’s G7 Presidency.