By Caribbean News Global 
OTTAWA, Canada – The UK will host the first in-person meeting of G7 foreign and development ministers in over 2 years at COVID-secure talks, foreign secretary Dominic Raab, announced Tuesday.
“The last G7 foreign ministers meeting took place in April 2019 at Dinard and Saint-Malo in France. The meeting is a crucial opportunity to revitalise in-person diplomacy and will look to establish a shared approach among the world’s leading democracies on equitable vaccine access, to agree global girls’ education targets, rigorous goals on climate finance and new measures to prevent famine and food insecurity,” the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a press release.
“The meeting of G7 foreign and development ministers next month is an opportunity to show how the world’s biggest democracies work together to ensure equitable access to vaccines, build back better from the pandemic, support girls in the poorest countries get a good quality education and agree ambitious action to tackle climate change,” said, foreign secretary Raab.
Marc Garneau, minister of foreign affairs, will take part in the first in-person meeting of G7 foreign and development from May 3 – 5, 2021; while Karina Gould, minister of international development, will join discussions virtually, the government of Canada announced Friday, stating, “the meeting is a crucial opportunity to make progress together on several pressing international challenges.”
Minister of foreign affairs Garneau, said: “This meeting with key partners will allow us to strengthen our coordinated responses to challenges posed by COVID-19 and the global economic recovery, as well as to persistent threats to democracy and human rights. I look forward to working with my colleagues to present a common front on these pressing issues.”
Ministers will look to align efforts notably on COVID-19, ensuring equitable access to vaccines, fighting climate change, enhancing food security and advancing girls’ education. They will also discuss coordinated responses to threats to human rights and democracy and regional security concerns in many countries, including China, Russia, Myanmar, Libya, Syria, North Korea and Iran.
With his colleagues, minister Garneau will also underscore Canada’s determination to end the practice of arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations.
Ministers will also have the opportunity to engage with their counterparts from India, Australia, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, along with the chair and secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who have been invited as guests to join parts of this year’s G7 foreign and development ministers’ meeting.
As the host country, the United Kingdom will implement strict COVID-secure measures, including social distancing and daily testing to ensure the health and wellbeing of all staff and attendees. Minister Garneau and Canadian delegates will follow all applicable health and safety protocols and adhere to quarantine requirements upon their return to Canada.
“This past year has shown us how interconnected the world is. Global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change require global collaboration and solutions. Canada has made important contributions to address these issues and is committed to working in cooperation with our G7 allies to tackle global challenges. Now more than ever is the time for true global cooperation,” said Gould, minister of international development.
