Genève
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Discours prononcé en anglais. Texte original, non traduit.
Distinguished participants,
Today is the launch of “A GUIDE TO GLOBAL HEALTH DIPLOMACY” published by the Global Health Center.
It is my pleasure to provide some opening remarks on this occasion.
And it is my honor to join other distinguished speakers today,
including Dr Tedros, Director-General of WHO;
Former WHO Director-General Margaret Chan;
Mr. Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
and many others.
The value of Global Health Diplomacy has probably never been more apparent as it is today.
In this pandemic the international community needs to come together in solidarity, counting on collaboration and multilateralism.
In this crisis we need skilled diplomacy to find good solutions.
Recent groundbreaking multilateral initiatives including the COVAX Facility and the ACT Accelerator have shown what can be achieved through global cooperation.
These are milestones in the history of Global Health.
Switzerland has contributed to these initiatives – financially, but also by co-chairing a “Group of friends”.
Switzerland is an active member of the international community and actively promotes global health cooperation. We are committed to a strong and effective Global Health architecture with the WHO at its core.
And Switzerland remains committed to build bridges between different actors, public and private, at the international level.
Our goal is to facilitate a constructive, targeted dialogue.
Geneva – as the Global Health capital – provides a unique ecosystem for Global health diplomacy.
With a high concentration of global health institutions.
As well as a nearly universal representation of diplomatic missions.
These health diplomats will find in this publication a very valuable reference work.
The publication of this Guide is very timely.
It provides a compass to navigate through the world of Global Health Diplomacy.
Switzerland is delighted to have supported the development of this reference work together with WHO.
I would like to thank
Prof. Ilona Kickbusch,
Vinh-Kim Nguyen,
Suerie Moon
and the team at the Global Health Centre, one of the key knowledge hubs in Geneva.
My congratulations for the launch of the “Guide to Global Health Diplomacy”.
I am convinced that it will prove invaluable to the international health community.
Thank you very much.