G7_2021

 source: La Presse

authors: Laurence Benhamou with Jean-Baptiste Oubrier from Falmouth

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, June 12, 2021 

translation: EdgeTranslation/doxa-louise

G7 leaders agree on broad infrastructure plan

(Carbis Bay) G7 leaders showed a united front on Saturday on the second day of their summit in Cornwall, on preventing pandemics and responding to China in infrastructure development, before ending the day with a barbecue on the beach.

At the end of a day full of working sessions and one-on-one meetings, it is time for a moment of conviviality for the Heads of State and Government of the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.

They gathered at the beach in Carbis Bay, the summit venue, for a barbecue concocted by a local chef, with grilled marshmallow and a rum cocktail on the menu.

Before dinner, they had looked up to see the Royal Air Force's acrobatic squad, the Red Arrows, pass through the clear skies of Cornwall. And the evening was to end in front of a group of local musicians performing traditional sailor songs.

On Sunday, for the end of the summit, climate should be at the centre of the discussions.

Climate convergence

The leaders want to preserve biodiversity by protecting at least 30% of land and seas by 2030, according to a statement from Downing Street.

London will also launch a £500 million (more than $857 million) fund to preserve oceans and marine ecosystems in countries such as Ghana and in Indonesia.

"The decisions we make during this decade ... are among the most important in human history," warned British star naturalist David Attenborough, 95.

Saturday was above all an opportunity for US President Joe Biden to bring his allies together in the face of the challenges posed by Beijing and Moscow.

"Is America back?" said journalists at the first meeting between the French and American presidents on the sidelines of the summit. "Ask that man," Joe Biden replied, before Emmanuel Macron replied: "Definitely."

The two leaders promised close cooperation with Beijing and Moscow. And a U.S. official spoke of "growing convergence" on China within the G7.

The G7 leaders, joined by their counterparts from South Korea, South Africa and Australia, showed good mutual understanding despite bitter exchanges between Europeans and the British on Brexit.

They launched a vast global infrastructure plan for disadvantaged countries, at Biden's initiative, to compete with the "new silk roads" set up by Beijing in Latin America, Africa or Asia.

This project, called "Build Back Better", is expected to help these countries recover from the pandemic, focusing on climate, health, digital technology and the fight against inequalities.

"We know that there is a huge need for infrastructure in Africa [...]. We can't just demure that China will do it," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the press.

The US administration estimates that hundreds of billions of dollars can be mobilized, thanks in particular to the private sector.

On diplomatic issues, which were one of the big challenge of the day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed on Twitter the return of "solidarity" and "cooperation" within the G7. A necessary alliance in the face of Russia and the security challenges it poses to Europe, she added.

The President of the European Council Charles Michel shared that the conflict in Ethiopian Tigray region, threatened with famine, had occupied the top of the agenda on international issues.

"Ravages" of COVID-19

The leaders also presented a battle plan against future pandemics, an initiative described as "historic" by London.

It comes down to reducing the time to develop vaccines, treatments and diagnostics, with the hope that the world can be ready in less than 100 days to deal with a sudden disease.

The other component is reform to strengthen the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Our goal must be to vaccinate at least 70% of the world's population by the next G7 in Germany next year," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at an online press conference.

Northern Ireland

This first summit in almost two years also provides an opportunity to exchange views in private on the subjects that are causing concern, first and foremost the tensions arising from the post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

In a face-to-face meeting, the EU, France and Germany urged London to respect its commitments, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on them to show "pragmatism and compromise" in the face of the difficulties caused by the new customs measures. He warned that his country would "not hesitate" to go beyond the Brexit deal.