South Korea, GAVI Chair Discuss Increased Cooperation

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- First Vice Minister of Government Policy Coordination Kim Young-su met with the chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) in Seoul on Thursday and discussed ways to increase cooperation between the two sides, officials said.

During the meeting with the GAVI chair, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Kim said South Korea intends to further expand cooperation with international healthcare organizations under its official development assistance plans in the healthcare sector announced in May.

Kim also said the country hopes to strengthen its strategic partnership with GAVI so that South Korean vaccine firms can contribute further to improving the international healthcare environment. The vaccine platform purchases more than US$140 million worth of vaccines, or 11 percent of its vaccine needs, from South Korea a year.

Clark expressed gratitude for South Korea's financial contribution to GAVI and expressed hope for strengthening cooperation with the country in vaccine development and distribution, and innovating the health and bio sectors using artificial intelligence technology.

South Korea contributed $426 million to GAVI between 2010-25 and plans to contribute an additional $50 million until 2030.