Ahead of the G7 summit in England, US President Joe Biden is leading a movement to push developing countries away from China’s grip.
Offering substantial infrastructure initiatives, and millions of Covid-19 vaccine doses, experts believe the power play could potentially outweigh Beijing’s.
The leaders were promoting a new “partnership” and announced the financing of several major infrastructure projects in emerging markets.
Although there was no direct mention of China, the initiatives proposed do have significant similarities to pledges previously made by Beijing.
These pledges include China’s belt and road initiative and the country’s vaccine distribution program.
As G7 member nations prepare to convene, it is expected that leaders will continue to assert the moral and economic standards of the west.
G7 summit or meeting concept. Row from flags of members of G7 group of seven and list of countries, 3d illustration
Vaccine Donation
During the summit, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson expects the Group of Seven to agree on a decision to donate one billion coronavirus vaccine doses to poorer nations.
It comes as the United States donates 500 million Pfizer shots to COVAX to battle the pandemic and strengthen the rollout around the world.
Some campaign groups condemned the plan as a drop in the ocean, with Oxfam estimating that nearly 4 billion people will depend on COVAX for vaccines, the programme that distributes COVID-19 shots to low and middle income countries.
We will only end the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone has access to vaccines.
The pandemic has claimed the lives of around 4 million people and ripped through the global economy. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
Authorities in South Africa are investigating the deaths of 22 people, who were mysteriously found in a nightclub
Victims were found spread across the tables and floors in a coastal town.
They have been taken for testing, as authorities scramble to find a cause of death.
South Africa’s President is sending his “deepest condolences” to families of the victims, most of whom are teenagers.
The tragedy has taken place during Youth Month, where South Africa pushes for more opportunities to help young people from poor socio-economic backgrounds.